Danish ends Malaysia's 44-year wait for Asian Games 200m final

NAGOYA: After 44 years, Malaysia will have a representative in the men's 200m final at the Asian Games after young sprinter Danish Iftikhar Roslee achieved a historic feat in Nagoya today.

Danish, 19, finished fourth in the first semi-final in 20.76s at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

The time was enough to qualify as one of the next two fastest runners, securing his place among the top eight sprinters in Asia.

The last time Malaysia had a representative in the men's 200m final at the Asian Games was through sprint legend Datuk Rabuan Pit at the 1982 New Delhi edition, where he won a bronze.

In today's semi-final, Japanese sprinter Soshi Mizukubo won the heat in 20.37, followed by Wu Yen Ming Ke of Taiwan (20.71) and Hong Kong's Yip King Wai (20.74).

Danish said making his Asian Games debut with the senior squad had provided him with a new and positive experience.

"It is something good and positive for me. This is my first Asian Games appearance, and it is a new experience... a major achievement for me," he said.

Meanwhile, another Malaysian sprinter, Haziq Akhir, failed to reach the final.

Haziq, who competed in the third semi-final alongside Asian sprint king Puripol Boonson of Thailand, finished eighth in 21.50.

Puripol, who won the men's 100m gold on Friday, continued his fine form by setting a new Asian Games record of 20.10, breaking the previous mark of 20.14s set by Qatar's Femi Ogunde at the 2014 Incheon edition.

India's Animesh Kujur finished second in the heat in 20.81, while Bahrain's Ali Haji was third in 21.91.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Armin Zahryl Abd Latif failed to advance to the semi-finals after finishing fourth in the third heat of the first round in 13.92s.

In the shot put, Jonah Chang finished seventh overall in the final with a throw of 18.89m.

Iran's Reza Tayebi won gold with 20.81, which was also a new Asian record, while India's Tajinderpal Singh Toor took silver with 20.64 and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Tolu claimed bronze with 20.48.