SUKMA: Johor's Nur Shaqirah Powers Through Injury To Claim 400m Hurdles Gold

KUCHING, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- “It is my responsibility to bring home gold for my family,” said Johor runner Nur Shaqirah Cik Mat Kilau after winning the gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) held at the Sarawak Stadium today.

Competing with an injury and in considerable pain, Nur Shaqirah contemplated withdrawing from the event. However, thoughts of her family motivated her to push through, she said. 

“I had torn my groin in two places during the Terengganu Super Series. I’m still recovering, and my quadriceps bruised after the 100m hurdles.

“I almost gave up, but seeing my brother Muhammad Hazriq miss out on gold in the 110m hurdles fired me up to deliver for my family,” she said after her gold-winning race today.

In a fiercely contested final, Nur Shaqirah clocked 63.36 seconds, just edging out Kelantan’s Siti Nur Faqihah Saidi, who finished with 63.44 seconds (s), while Sabah’s Frenynila Sherly Lucius took the bronze with 64.22s.

Meanwhile, Selangor’s Esther Joy claimed her third personal gold in the 10,000m, dominating with a time of 40:37.98 seconds, while Perlis’ Farhana Izurein Faizal Amizul earned her state’s first gold in athletics with a powerful 12.61m shot put throw. 

Kelantan's Alia Batrisya Nasaruddin soared to gold in the women’s triple jump with a jump of 12.58m and Penang's Melissa Choong En Xuan topped the rest of the field in the heptathlon, winning gold with a total of 4,665 points.

Melaka's Muhammad Hafidzul Ain clinched the second athletics gold for his state, winning the men’s pole vault with a height of 4.70m.

-- BERNAMA