KUALA LUMPUR: Sprint sensation Azeem Fahmi is beginning to settle down at Auburn University in Alabama.
Azeem arrived in the United States on Jan 4 and has already begun training at the university under coach Ken Harnden. The Perak-born has also started his studies in the field of exercise physiology and kinesiology on Jan 11.
Azeem's long time coach Amir Izwan Tan Abdullah has been keeping in touch with him.
Amir said Azeem, 18, has been suffering from some homesickness but is otherwise coping well in his new environment.
"Azeem started training under coach Ken about 11 days ago and he is doing well," said Amir today.
"He is expected to compete in his first National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) indoor competition at the end of this month. The outdoor NCAA competitions will only start in March.
"Azeem's main goal is to become the first South East Asian to dip below 10 seconds in the 100m event. With Ken's guidance, supervised by former Olympic champion Leroy Burrell, I am certain Azeem will be able to achieve his dream.
"I predict that Azeem will be able to achieve it (sub-10s) by the middle of next year. It could be even earlier but it all depends on his progress in training and competitions."
Azeem was offered to study in the United States after catching the eye of talent scouts at the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia, last August.
He had clocked 10.09s in the 100m heats in Cali, breaking the national record of 10.18s set by Khairul Hafiz Jantan at the 2016 Malaysia Games. Azeem went on to place fifth in the final.