KUALA LUMPUR: Middle distance runner Wan Fazri Wan Zahari has a new coach who is "making his life harder".
But the 22-year-old Kelantanese doesn't mind as French coach Jean Peirre Lautredoux can make him a better runner.
Fazri began training under Lautredoux in Bukit Jalil last month after four years under his previous coach, Hisham Mustaza.
In his Sea Games debut in Phnom Penh last month, he won the men's 800m bronze with a time of 1:53.86.
Fazri, who has a personal best of 1:51.66 (registered at the Malaysia Games last September), said he hopes to clock better times under his new coach.
"Training under Lautredoux is much tougher physically as he pushes me to the limit.
"But I'm not complaining as he wants me to be much fitter for competitions. Besides the tough training, he also motivates me a lot."
Fazri said he feels that Lautredoux can help him qualify for the Hangzhou Asian Games from Sept 3 to Oct 8.
"I need to clock 1:49.05 (the sixth placing of the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games) to qualify for Hangzhou.
"The time is more than two seconds faster than my personal best. So, it's going to be a real challenge for me, but I'm prepared to achieve it," said Fazri, who is pursuing a degree in sports science at Universiti Malaya.
Fazri's first competition under Lautredoux will be the Pahang Open on Sunday in Kuantan.