KUALA LUMPUR: National long jump athlete, R. Kirthana fulfilled predictions when she won gold in the long jump event at the 2018 Institutions of Higher Learning Games (SUKIPT).
Kirthana who represented Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) recorded a golden jump measuring 5.52m, while silver went to Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Ji Fedalliah Claritta Jaimin with a jump of 5.34m, as Sonisa Sangthong of Suratthani Rajabhat University from Thailand taking bronze (5.11m).
However, it is not the national athlete’s favourite event who pays more attention and focus on triple jump.
Kirthana who has competed at the World Youth Championships in Poland two years ago said that she was not really satisfied with her performance today (Tuesday) even though she managed to win gold for UPM.
“My participation here at SUKIPT in the long jump event was to fill in for my teammate but at least I tried to improve on my weakness in terms of running technique.
“But I know that I can do much better because before this I have managed a jump of 5.96m,” said Kirthana who will be leaving for Jakarta on Friday to take part in the Pre Asian Games Championship.
Meanwhile in the women’s high jump, another national athlete stamped her mark in the form of Norliyana Kamaruddin of UPM who recorded 1.65m to take the gold. Chia Lee Mei of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College took silver (1.55m), while Nurizah Abdullah from Politeknik Malaysia (1.45m) took home the bronze.
In the men’s 5,000 event, Teoh Kim Ling from Politeknik Malaysia won with a time of 20 minutes 11.14s, followed by UPM’s S. Priyashankari and G. Shantini also of Politeknik Malaysia.
In the men’s shot put, gold went to Muhammad Aidil Taufek (UPN -- 14.38m), followed by R. Meveeqhen (Universiti Teknologi Petronas -- 13.67m) and Zulkifli Saidin (Malaysia Community College -- 13.43m).
In Silat, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) undergraduates showed their prowess by dominating competition, winning five golds.
The first gold for UPSI was contributed by Sharulnizam Abdul Roni in the Putra C category, followed by Amirul Amri Rahim (Putra D), Amir Kasturi Rahim (Putra E), Mohd Shaheed Md Shafiee (Putra J) and Nor Aziera Zulkifli (Putri F).
For Amirul, the success in defeating Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Mohd Amir Izzat Khalid 5-0 did not satisfy his desire.
He said that there is still a lot of room for improvement if he is to realise his ambition of being a national exponent even though winning in his first outing at SUKIPT is a very encouraging result.
“Winning 5-0 does not mean that I am confortable or very happy. There is still a lot I need to improve and work on as there are some really good silat exponents in my category who did not take part here at SUKIPT.
“I also have the challenge of becoming a national exponent which is very tough and challenging but I am willing to give it my all to be called up to the national squad, said Amirul who won bronze while representing Pahang at the Malaysia Games in Sarawak in 2016.