KUANTAN: Shereen Samson Vallabouy's dream of qualifying for the Paris Olympics on merit through the Malaysian Open did not materialise despite easily winning the women's 400m gold medal at the Darulmakmur Stadium, Kuantan today.
The 26-year-old, who clocked 52.45s in the women's 400m final today, is glad she still has another shot of qualifying for the Olympics at the Kazakhstan Open in Almaty from June 23-24.
The Kazakhstan Open is the final race for Shereen to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
She can either meet the Olympic qualifying mark of 50.95 or earn rankings points to break into the top 48 for a Paris ticket. Shereen is currently ranked 63rd.
"It is an important race, and I am happy to have another opportunity next week to do 51 seconds or less. I am confident, and hopefully, I can accomplish it.
"I had done 51.79 about one and half weeks ago. I have to do 50.95 seconds to qualify for the Olympics, today, my effort was not close enough.
"It is a tough mental game, so I need to prepare myself for the Kazakhstan Open," she said after the race in Kuantan.
On her timing at the Malaysian Open, Shereen said: "I would not say that I am satisfied or the timing was far from my expectations.
"I only arrived here from the United States on Sunday. I could have some more time to recover to get there."
Shereen will use the short duration to recover and prepare before she heads to Almaty next.
"Now onwards, I want to recover well and put in some hard work within the short duration before I leave for Kazakhstan," she said.
Johor's Nurul Aliah Maisarah Nor Azmi clocked 57.18 to win the silver in Kuantan, while Nurul Faizah Asma Mazlan (57.61) took the bronze.