Maziah Mahusin will depart Brunei
for Singapore today to compete in
the 2010 Youth Olympic Games's
400-metre hurdles event. Picture:
BT/Amir Amin

Maziah Mahusin is determined to give her best in what may be her final competition of the year.

One of three athletes departing to Singapore today for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Maziah will be representing the country in the 400-metre hurdles event but at the risk of further injuring her right foot's achilles tendon.

The 17-year-old suffered the injury back in March before the trials for the Games and it has been getting worse ever since.

"Actually the doctors advised me not to run because I might aggravate the injury," Maziah informed The Brunei Times, on the sidelines of her training at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday.

The sole Bruneian athletics representative said that she will only seek treatment after the Games. As a consequence, the Games might be her final meet for the year.

She may be young but Maziah is adamant to not blame the injury for any ill-performance.

"Yes, the injury might affect my run but that is no excuse if I perform below expectations. I will force myself to run and I am going to give my best," said Maziah.

The other dilemma Maziah is facing is that the Games are coinciding with the fasting month of Ramadhan.

"It's hard. I need the energy to train to be in form for the competition, so I might have to opt from fasting and and observe puasa (at a later date)," she said.

Though afflicted with an injury, Maziah still managed to record her personal best for the 400m hurdles event during the Games' trials in March.

She clocked 68.32 seconds in Singapore, while the current national record stands at 1:06.00 minutes set by Marsita Kamal Jumat.

National athletics coach Dario de Rosas will be happy enough if his disciple can show consistency in Singapore.

"Right now she's averaging around 70s, so I hope that she will run under that time and match her personal best," said the coach.

"We're using this exposure for next year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. I want to build her confidence, show that she can withstand the pressure at an international stage," he added.

"I'm not ready to break the national record yet at my current level. (Maybe) next year for the SEA Games in Indonesia," agreed Maziah, who will debut in the competition on August 19, to compete in the preliminary rounds.

Courtesy from Brunei Times