Lee Hup Wei wins fourth high jump gold in SEA Games

Lee Hup Wei earned his fourth gold medal in the SEA games as he won the men's high jump during the 30th SEA Games edition in Clark, the Philippines.

The 32-year-old cleared 2.21m to win the gold medal from defending champion, Nauraj Singh who had to settle for the silver medal after a countback.

During the last edition in Kuala Lumpur, both have cleared 2.24m but Nauraj won on a countback as well.

Nauraj holds the current national record of 2.30m that qualifies him for the Rio Olympics in 2016, while Hup Wei's PB of 2.29m was achieved recently in Doha to become the first Malaysian to reach the finals of world championships.

Lee Hup Wei won his first SEA Games in 2007 (2.19m), and retained it in 2009 (2.18m) and 2011 (2.15m).

The SEA games title was then handed over to Nauraj in the next three editions in 2013 (2.17m), 2015 (2.13m), and 2017 (2.24m).

The SEA games record of 2.24m is being held by three Malaysian athletes, both Hup Wei and Nauraj from 2017, and Loo Kum Zee from 1995.



Malaysian domination in high jump

Malaysia has been dominating the men's high jump in SEA Games. This was started by Zainal Salleh in 1967 who won Malaysia's first high jump gold in a height of 1.91m.

But only ten years later in 1977, the gold medal returned to Malaysian possession when Baljit Singh won in 2.04m during which Malaysia became the host.

Malaysia then continues to win the gold medal in every SEA Games editions, except in 2005 when the gold medal went to Vietnam's Nguyen Duy Bang (2.14m).

Ho Yoon Wah won in 1979 (2.05m) and 1981 (2.10m), and this was continued by Ramjit Naurulal who bassed the gold in 1983 (2.13m) and 1985 (2.07m).

Loo Cwee Peng won three times in 1987 (2.10m), 1991 (2.17m), and in 1993 (2.21m), while the 1989 edition was grabbed by Kesavan Sibalan who achieved a height of 2.14m.

Loo Kum Zee continued this tradition with five consecutive wins in 1995 (2.24m - current SEA Games record) 1997 (2.10m), 1999 (2.21m), 2001 (2.18m), and 2003 (2.15m).

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Haiqal Hanafi wins SEA Games 100m Gold in 10.35

Malaysia’s Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi is the king of sprint of the 30th SEA Games that was held in Clark, the Philippines.

He clocked a new personal best (PB) of 10.35 to win the century dash in an unexpectedly huge margin against a strong 100m field.

Thailand's fastest final qualifier Sowan Ruttanapon and Bandit Chuangchai were in second (10.49) and third (10.52) for silver and bronze, respectively.

Ironically, the 20-year-old was not listed as a representative for the 100m until the mid of November when the Malaysian Athletics Federation decided to have him as a replacement of an injured sprinter (Zulfiqar Ismail).

In fact, he was not the first choice for that as was the 4th fastest among the locals, behind Jonathan Nyepa (10.37), Zulfiqar Ismail (10.41), and Russel Taib (10.42), before the SEA Games.

However, he had a more compelling performance throughout the year than other Malaysian sprinters who seem unconvincingly prepared for the sprint century.

He won a double (100m and 200m) in the national championships in August and posted a 10.44 during a local meeting in November.

Haiqal who trains under Poad Kassim has triggered a sound signal for something to watch in the finals as he ran 10.39 in heats in the morning, a personal best.

"Thanks God, thanks to my coach, families, and those who have supported me, I executed my race plan very well," Haiqal said.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Le Tu Chinh retained her title in the women’s 100m in a time of 11.54, just ahead Kristina Knott of the Philippines who stopped the clock at 11.55.

Like Haiqal, she was unstoppable after taking a good lead from the start.

Singapore's Veronica Shanti Pereira retained her bronze medal from the last edition as she finished in third place in 11.66.

Malaysia's Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli who bagged the silver medal in Kuala Lumpur, was in sixth in 11.84.

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Haiqal Hanafi clocks 10.39s at 100m in SEA Games

Flash Performance ___ Malaysian sprinter Haiqal Hanfi clocked a new personal best of 10.39 (-0.1 m/s) during his 100m heats, in the Day 3 morning session (8 December) of the 30th SEA Ganes at Clark.

He entered the final round as a second fastest qualifier behind Thailand's Ruttanapon Sowan who also ran a new personal best of 10.34.

The next fastest qualifiers were Thailand's Bandit Chuangchai (10.50), Anfernee Lopena of the Philippines (10.61), and Malaysia's Jonathan Nyepa (10.65).

Meanwhile, after winning the women's 200m yesterday, Kristina Knott of the Philippines returned to track and won her 100m heats. The US-based sprinter clocked a time of 11.45 (-0.1 m/s).

She has a lifetime best of 11.42 in the 100m this year.

Vietnam's defending champion Le Tu Chinh won the second heat in 11.61 (0.0 m/s).

Malaysia's Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli ran 11.68 behind Knott in the first heats. She won silver medals at 100m and 200m behind Le Tu Chinh during the last SEA Games edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Full results of men's and women's 100m heats as follows (in order):

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Kittipong Boonmawan 67.56m Hammer SEA Games record, Jackie Wong 63.83m for Silver

Flash Performance___On Saturday (7 December) the second day of athletics in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, Thailand's Kittipong Boonmawan has thrown the iron ball at a distance of 67.56m to take the gold medal in the men's hammer throw while erasing the games record of 65.90m.

Malaysia's defending champion Jackie Wong Siew Cheer seems unable to repeat what he had been doing during the previous months and years.

He settled for the silver medal in the best distance of 63.83m.

He also had fouled three times, which seemed to deny his chance of getting good marks.

He recorded a distance of 68.22m a few months ago, his 13th national record in his pet event.

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Chayut Khongprasit wins SEA Games 200m Gold in 20.71

Flash Performance____Thailand's sprint camp had been aiming to take an individual gold in SEA Games they last won several years ago.

It was delivered by an underdog Chayut Khongprasit who went sub-21 for the first time with a 20.71 clocking.

Khongprasit's teammate and pre-race favorite, Siripol Punpa was beaten at the end and finished in second for silver (20.78).

Malaysia's Russel Taib picked up the bronze in 21.11.

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Andre Anura became the first Malaysian to go over 8 metres in long jump

An 8-meter mark would have won the gold medal in all the SEA Games editions, but not during the most recent one at Clark, the Philippines.

Two legal marks of over 8 meters were set in a dramatic men's long jump finals on Saturday evening (7 December).

At first, Malaysian youngster Andre Anura @ Anuar who had jumped 7.90m last month had two massive foul jumps beyond 8 meters, during his first and second jumps.

However, it was Indonesia's Asian Games bronze medalist Sapwaturrahman who eventually claimed the gold medal.

Andre Anura leaped 8.02m in long jump

With a personal best of 8.09m, the 25-year-old former Indonesian sprinter has registered a distance of 8.03m (+0.5) during his fourth attempt, renewing the Games Record of 7.87m by Henry Dagmil of the Philippines since 2007.

The 20-year-old Andre responded that during his last attempt but merely shy from grabbing the top spot. He secured the silver medal.

He recorded a distance measuring 8.02m to become the first Malaysian to achieve an 8-meter mark in the long jump.

Thailand's former Asian decathlon champion Suttisak Singkhon who stands 6'3" and weighs 95kg, had a new PB of 7.89m, which would also renew the previous GR, but only enough for a bronze medal.

It was unfortunate for Andre that he had "deemed to be better" jumps which were fouled, while his best legal jump was against a slight breeze (-0.1).

Andre now owns the Malaysian national record by renewing the mark of 7.88m by Josbert Tinus since 2007.

Of note, Andre's 7.90m mark last month was not ratified by the national federation due to the absence of wind reading, and "technical constraints" (meeting not recognized).

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Kristina Knott wins SEA Games 200m in 23.01 Games record

FLASH PERFORMANCE ___ Fil-Am sprinter Kristina Knott had already erased the games record earlier in the morning as she clocked 23.07, to win the women's 200m in the afternoon with another record-breaking.

The 24-year-old improved her time to 23.01 for a new SEA Games record, as well as a national record.

Vietnam's defending champion Le Tu Chinh settled for silver in 23.45, while the 2015 champion Veronica Pereira of Singapore secured the bronze (23.77).

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Kristina Knott sets 23.07 200m a new SEA Games record

Kristina Knott had a good warm-up in this (Saturday) morning, running her 200m heats comfortably in a new personal best of 23.07 (0.0).

Her effort has bettered the old SEA Games mark of 23.30 set by Thailand’s Supavadee Khawpeag during the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 18 years ago.

She also broke Zion Corrales-Nelson's national record of 23.16 that was set in last April, which renewed the 23.35 record held by Lydia De Vega for 34 years.

The 24-year-old who had set personal bests this year of 11.42 and 23.62 in 100m and 200m, respectively trains under American coach Rohsaan Griffin whose PB in 200m is 20.13s.

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