ATHLETIC: Below-par Roslinda still manages silver

IT was just the start to the season Roslinda Samsu (pic) wanted after winning a silver medal at the Taiwan Pole Vault Invitational Championship in Kaohsiung on Friday.

Roslinda was content with second placing despite only managing to clear 4.14m, far from her personal best of 4.40m, as the meet was only meant as a warm-up for the year ahead.

The 26-year-old pole vaulter from Kedah is more concerned with getting her technique right as she attempts to qualify for the World Championships in August.

"I am quite pleased with my performance. For my first competition of the season, winning a silver is fantastic," said Roslinda.

"As I have only just returned to training (after a break for studies), I'm not yet into my full run-up and the poles I'm using now are the soft ones.
"But I'll be better prepared for my next competition which could be the Thai Open (at the end of April)."

The Taiwan meet was Roslinda's first competition since winning a gold medal at the Asean University Games in Bukit Jalil last December with a height of 4.00m.

Roslinda needs to clear 4.35m to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin before the qualification period ends on Aug 3.

The mark is clearly within her reach although she last cleared that height at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan in August 2007.

Roslinda, who is now training under her first coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil, will also defend her Asian Championship and Sea Games titles this year. -- DEVINDER SINGH

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