SHEREEN REMAINS HOPEFUL FOR PARIS OLYMPICS

SEPANG, June 25 (Bernama) -- National women’s 400 metres (m) record holder Shereen Samson Vallabuoy still hopes to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris despite failing to qualify on merit through her time or ranking in her favourite event.

The 25-year-old athlete said although there is a possibility of switching to the 100m event in the competition, she will accept any decision made by the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) with an open heart.

"I think that both Muhammad Azeem Fahmi and I have worked hard. At the end of the day, both of us want to take the wildcard and run in the Olympics.

"Whatever the decision is, I will be thankful and happy for both of us and accept it," she said when met by reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here today.

Shereen failed to qualify for Paris 2024 despite winning the Kazakhstan Open in Almaty on Saturday. She took gold with a time of 52.60 seconds (s) but fell short of the qualifying standard of 50.95s for an automatic ticket to the Olympics.

The Olympic Games will be held from July 26-Aug 11.

Shereen said if she fails to get the wildcard, she hopes to be given time to continue her training in the United States under coach Darrick White.

She said training in the United States would be good for her to prepare for major events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2026.

"I don't know how it will work after this, so I will meet up with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council to discuss my future. My long-term goal is to run in LA 2028, the World Championships, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.

"I think my running is more solid and not breaking down like before, and I also see a lot of improvement. I would like to continue training there for the coming years," she said.

-- BERNAMA