Aida Adilah Mat and Jumiati Rosly
IPOH: Despite being illness since the opening day of the athletics competition, Eng May Xin of Federal Territories recorded a surprise in the heptathlon discipline by smashing one of the longest standing records at the Malaysia Games on Thursday.
May Xin battered Masliza Shaari’s record of 4,453 points set at the 1996 Pahang edition by earning 4,510 points to win the gold medal.
Penang’s Koh Ann Yi (4,028 points) won the silver, followed by Sarawak’s Mazween Ubong Lah (3,806).
May Xin, 19, also recorded personal best in four (100m hurdle, 200m, long jump and javelin) out of the seven events.
“I like heptathlon as even if you lose in one event, you have a chance to make up in other disciplines. I have not been feeling good, but I rallied on to attain glory
“Frankly, I did not expect to win gold in this event,” she said.