TERENGGANU is famous for its 'keropok lekor' and world-class road and track cyclists.
But now they have a sprinter the people of Terengganu can be proud of in 21-year-old Azreen Nabila Alias.
Soon, Azreen will head to the Tokyo Olympics and face the best sprinters in the world.
Although Azreen is not in the same league as Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and American Teahna Daniels, she feels she has the legs and speed to do decently when she makes her Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Her ultimate goal is to dip below 12 seconds in the women's 100m in Tokyo.
Azreen's only flash was when she smashed a decade old Malaysia Games 100m record at the 2018 edition in Ipoh with a laudable 11.81s to erase Siti Fatimah Ahmad's old mark by 0.01s.
However, she has not dipped below 12 seconds since but has a golden chance to do so at the Tokyo tracks.
When this scribe called Azreen, she had just finished her after training ice-bath at the National Sports Council (NSC) and was cool as a cucumber.
She explained that her dad had died in 2014, while her mother was a 'kepok' businesswoman.
"Yes, Terengganu is famous for 'keropok lekor', and it is everywhere."
Asked why she chose athletics, not other sports, Azreen, who comes from a family of eight siblings, said: "My parents wanted me to be a sprinter as they saw something in me.
"I studied at the Bukit Nenas Sports School when I was 13, and then the Bukit Jalil Sports School after completing my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations.
"I never wanted to leave home, but my mother motivated me. The fact that my father wanted me to become a sprinter (before he died) made my resolve stronger," said Azreen.
Many are questioning her entry into the Olympics as she has not been in good form of late.
According to them, she will not stand a chance against runners next to her lane.
"I know what is being said (and discussed online), but my mind is only on my task. I want to arrive in Tokyo with a positive mind and then run the race of my life.
"I can only do it by shutting out all the negative vibes and focus on the positives — I am going to the Olympics!"
Azreen has been 'stuck' at the NSC hostel and training track since January, as Covid-19 has made it impossible for her to do anything else.
"I have been training with the backup athletes at the NSC track since January, but most have left for home. I only have one junior athlete to train with."
Meanwhile, high jumper Lee Hup Wei needs no introduction and will become a triple Olympian when he competes in Tokyo.
Following Hup Wei's qualification as World No 27 on the Road to Olympics rankings, World Athletics offered the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) a wildcard for a female athlete to compete in Tokyo.
The MAF chose Azreen to take up the wildcard.
Tied at World No 57 with 24 other athletes, she will not be the only one in Tokyo with a slow time. She needs to forget about the medals and record breakers and just concentrate on bettering her peers.
As for Hup Wei, the Kajang-born hopes to make it count by qualifying for the high jump final in Tokyo.