SEA Games: Nauraj, Irfan add second and third gold medals for athletics

Nauraj Singh Randhawa and Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin made sure Malaysia's National anthem 'Negaraku' was heard at the Singapore National Stadium after winning their respective events, here today.

Defending champion Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin successfully defended his gold medal with a throw of 56.65m to beat Thailand's Narong Benjaroon (52.59m) while another Thailand athlete, Kwanchai Numsomboon (51.02m) took the bronze.

Irfan from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan was however, not happy with his achievement today since his distance today was way off his personal best mark of 58.04m which he had set last month at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The SEA Games record of 59.50m was set by Singapore's James Wong Tuck Yim at the 1999 Brunei SEA Games.

In the men's high jump, Nauraj made sure Malaysia's dominance in the event continued at the SEA Games when he cleared 2.13m to win the gold medal on count back since Vietnam's Van Thuy Dao had also cleared 2.13m, albeit in his third attempt compared to Nauraj who managed to clear his first attempt.

Another Malaysian, Muhammed Ashraf Saipu Rahman won the bronze with a height of 2.11m.

Nauraj said he had to work very hard to secure the victory as competition was very stiff, especially from the Vietnam jumper.

"My next target is to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil 2016 and I have about 11 months to achieve that dream," he said.