Brunei Olympian Maziah Mahusin
is recovering well after developing
breathing problems in London
because of a chest infection due to
the cold and dry air.Picture: BT file

Maziah Mahusin is well on her way to full fitness at the London Olympics after a recovering from a bout of flu and cough.

Brunei's first female Olympian was under the weather before last Friday's opening ceremony but was healthy enough to lead the country's contingent out at the Olympic Stadium, where she relished the responsibility of carrying the nation's flag in front of a 60,000-strong audience.

She did not train for Friday's 400m heats last Thursday or Friday, with light training the order of the day since then.

"I've still continued training over the past few days ... Just light training," said Maziah yesterday.

"It has been normal work-outs in the morning and afternoon, but I'll have to force myself to start intensive training since my event is soon ... I have to push it.

"I've been on the track yesterday (Tuesday) and I want to go out again today (Wednesday)," added the 19-year-old.

In last Saturday's daily report, the country's chef de mission Hj Mohd Zamri DP Hj Hamdani said that Maziah had developed breathing problems in London because of a chest infection due to the cold and dry air. She was prescribed an inhaler and nasal drops, both of which are approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Stating that Maziah has recovered well enough to train at the gym, Hj Mohd Zamri also seemed sure that Maziah was on the mend.

"Maziah has also decreased the use of the inhaler and it is expected that she will show improvement in her training as her race approaches," said Hj Mohd Zamri in Tuesday's report.

He also noted that Maziah had blisters on her left leg but has been treated for it.

Because of the rain on Tuesday morning, Maziah and fellow Olympian Ak Hafiy Tajuddin Pg Rositi only trained at the Olympic Village's Fitness Centre though they were able to shift to their routine training at the Olympic Park's Athlete's Training Area in the afternoon.

Ak Hafiy will compete in the 400m heats on Saturday, the last event that any of the country's three athletes will see action in at London.

Anderson Lim Chee Wei started Brunei's Olympics on a bright note after the 16-year-old setting a new record in the 200-metre freestyle on Sunday.

The national record of 2:05.19, which also happens to be his personal best, was broken by nearly three seconds (2:02.26) a fitting end for Lim, who was the first Bruneian to feature in swimming at the Games.

Like Lim, Maziah and Ak Hafiy Tajuddin will be looking to break their personal bests in London.

Maziah's best time is 1:00.32 while Ak Hafiy Tajuddin's personal best is 49.23 seconds.

The Sultanate's participation at the Olympics has been made possible courtesy of universality places that the world governing bodies of athletics and swimming, IAAF and FINA respectively, have opened to countries that have no qualified athletes.

Courtesy from Brunei Times