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MAAU Hoping For Hup Wei To Deliver The Goods In Guangzhou

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) are hoping for high jumper Lee Hup Wei to repeat his Asian Track and Field (ATF) feat at the Guangzhou Asian Games next month.

MAAU deputy president Karim Ibrahim said since Hup Wei had clinched the gold medal at the ATF in Amman, Jordan back in 2007, against a tough field, he was confident that Hup Wei would soar to greater heights in the Asian Games, scheduled from Nov 12-27.

"If he can maintain his performance and clear 2.26m or 2.27m, we can be assured of a medal," he told Bernama here Wednesday.

He added that in New Delhi, Hup Wei could only manage 2.23m, way below his personal best of 2.27m, achieved at the China Open in May 2008 at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, to break the 13-year-old record of 2.24m set by Loo Kum Zee in the 1995 Chiang Mai SEA Games.

The Dengkil, Selangor-born high jumper who holds the national high jump record of 2.27m, would himself be eager to make up for a poor outing in New Delhi, he said.

Karim said so far only six athletes had qualified for the Asian Games on merit, namely Roslinda Samsu (women's pole vault), Lee Hup Wei (men's high jump) and the women's 4x100m quartet comprising Siti Zubaidah Adabi, Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir and Yee Yi Lin.

He added that Roslinda who holds the national women's pole vault record at 4.40m, was another athlete who had a poor outing in New Delhi.

"We hope Roslinda can pull off a surprise or two in Guangzhou because in New Delhi, she had only managed 3.95m," he said.

Meanwhile, the MAAU Open to be held at the National Sports Council's mini stadium in Bukit Jalil over the weekend would also provide a platform for national athletes to earn their ticket to Guangzhou.

-- BERNAMA

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