KUALA LUMPUR: Sprinter Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam has two missions to achieve at the four-day Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in Yecheon, South Korea, which starts on Sunday.
The Sabah-born hopes to record a personal best and win a medal in the boys' 200m event.
In last year's Asian Under-18 Championships in Kuwait, Pengiran, who stands only 1.66m, won the 200m bronze in 21.65s.
Pengiran also upstaged top sprinters Jonathan Nyepa and Khairul Hafiz Jantan to win the 200m in 21.54s at the Malaysian Championships in Bukit Jalil in February.
The 18-year-old clocked 21.36s, a new personal best, to bag bronze at the Singapore Open in April.
"I hope he can achieve 21.30s in Yecheon," said Pengiran's coach Jumain Taepe.
"He will have a good chance to finish on the podium if he does it," said Jumain.
Pengiran hopes to spring a surprise at the Asian Under-20 meet.
"I am not sure of the strength of other sprinters in Asia, but I believe I will win a medal if I improve my personal best.
"I am physically and mentally in good shape and will go all out to make Malaysia proud in Yecheon," said Pengiran, who will also compete in the 100m event.
Pengiran has a personal best of 10.62s in 100m.
Coach Jumain also hopes he can dip below 10.50s in Yecheon.
Other Malaysians competing in Yecheon are Adam Hakim (men's 100 and 200m), Elvin Yap (110m hurdles), Aidil Azhar (400m), Fakhrul Afizul (400m hurdles), Wilson Quaik (decathlon), Reynolds JC Majin (high jump), Nur Afrina Batrisya (women's 100m and 200m) and Ormilla Octavia (100m).
Afrina was part of the 4x100m quartet, which set a national record by clocking 44.58s in the Phnom Penh Sea Games last month.