Wafiq Kifli in action during the final single event trial for the Commonwealth Youth Games at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday. Picture: BT/Zaim Kasmat
THE national jump coach Joseph Kameni concluded the final long jump trials in preparation for the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) at the Padang and Berlapan Sports Complex, Berakas yesterday.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Kameni said that Wafiq Kifli is ready for the CYG but needs a bit of improvement.
"I am very optimistic with Wafiq Kifli and I know he is quite ready for the CYG. However, he needs to still improve his approach speed. We are going to focus to practise more when we arrive in Samoa. We have four to five days to practise and that is just enough time for him to be at his 100%," he said.
"I have been training with Wafiq who was a long distance runner for 10 months now, and I already can see a huge potential in him. In the last few months, he has definitely improved in terms of technique, strength and speed. However, one of the main reasons for him to participate in the CYG is not only to break his own personal best and the national record, but to gain international exposure," he added. Wafiq Kifli also set his new personal best record of 5.46m yesterday.
The 16-year-old said: "I feel 95% ready for the event, but I am still not happy with my distance today. I am confident, but I need to practise more on my approach speed. In the next few days, I will push harder to improve my performance.
"My main target is to break the national record, but I want to go as far as 6.00m. The coach has been training me well, as he's done his best to help improve my personal best and my overall technique." he added.
The CYG will be held in Apia from September 5 to 11 with three representatives from Brunei. "There will be three athletes from Brunei. Wafiq Kifli in the Long jump, Ammar Safwan Zaidin in the 400m and Ernie Sahrina Fattah in women's shotput," Kameni added.
