Md Fakhri Ismail (R) and American sprinter Justin Gatlin pose for a photo at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing yesterday. Md Fakhri will be aiming to break his national record in the men's 100m in the heats today. Picture: Courtesy of Md Fakhri Ismail
Md Fakhri Ismail poses for a photo at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing yesterday ahead of his men's 100m preliminary race at the World Athletics Championships today. Picture: Courtesy of Md Fakhri Ismail
NATIONAL 100m record holder Md Fakhri Ismail is both "nervous and excited" ahead of his 100m preliminaries at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing today.
Speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday, Md Fakhri - who is the country's sole representative at the world meet - said that he was anxious to compete at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing.
"I am really nervous and excited as this is my first international championship," he said. "I have had good preparation as I have been training from the beginning of the year.
"Breaking another national record would be my main target and it would be a bonus if I could get through to the heats as well. "However, it will be a challenging task as the athletes competing here are all world-class," added the 24-year-old.
Md Fakhri's last championship was at June's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore when he made history by setting a new 100m national record of 10.59s in the heats. Md Fakhri held the old previous national record of 10.61s which he set at the Perak Open Athletics Championships in May.
The national sprinter's other major achievement was when he won gold medal in the 200m event at the 2013 Borneo Games in Labuan after he crossed the finish line in 22.23s.
A total of 2,000 athletes from over 200 nations are in Beijing for the world championships.
