13 October 2011

Fauzi not comfortable with favourite tag in SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Jakarta has been a good hunting ground for silat exponent Mohd Fauzi Khalid.

Last year, the Penangite defied the odds to beat an Indonesian exponent in the final to win the men’s below 75kg category in the World Championships in Jakarta.

The 24-year-old Fauzi will surely start as the favourite when he features in his third SEA Games, based on his achievements this year.

He won gold in all the three competitions he featured in this year – the Asian meet in Singapore (March), Belgium Open (April) and South East Asian meet in Kuala Lumpur (July).

Gold act: Silat exponent Mohd Fauzi Khalid will start as the favourite when he features in his third SEA Games. — S.S.KANESAN/ The Star
Fauzi, however, is not comfortable with the fact that the Malaysian Silat Federation are banking on him to deliver one of the two gold medals targeted for the SEA Games.

“Although Jakarta is a good hunting ground for me, I am already feeling the pressure of having to retain the gold medal in the Games,” said Fauzi, who won a silver in the world meet in Jakarta in 2007.

“I am afraid that I might not live up to expectations as I am not too pleased with my techniques in the combat sport.

“I am in good physical shape but I need to improve on my techniques.

“I also expect strong challenges from exponents from Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.”

At the last SEA Games in Laos two years ago, Malaysia returned with four golds – out of the 12 at stake – and six bronzes.

Although the number of gold medals have been increased to 18 for the Indonesian SEA Games, the MSF have only set a modest target of two golds.

Faizal Abdullah, who won the gold medal in the below 80kg in the Laos Games, will not defend his title because of a knee injury.

The MSF have named 24 exponents – 13 men and 11 women – for the SEA Games. The silat competition is divided into two categories – sparring and demonstration.

The Malaysian squad
Men: Mohd Hafiz Mahari, Mohd Taufek Abdul Latif, Mohd Helmi Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Shahril Zailuddin, Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari, Mohd Fauzi Khalid, Azrul Abdullah, Mohd Firdaus Sabaruddin, Mohd Faiz Abdul Malek, Mohd Taqiuddin Hamid, Ahmad Tajul Zaman Tajuddin, Hanif Ismail, Mohd Hafiz Mohd Arif.

Women: Noor Farahana Ismail, Emy Latip, Siti Rahmah Moh Nasir, Siti Khadijah Hassan, Matsura Sapuan, Maslinda Zakaria, Kamilah Sulong, Siti Arfiyah Abdul Jalil, Nurnaema Nayan, Nor Afizah Ariffin, Nurul Hidayah Sobri.

Sourced from http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/10/13/sports/9686584&sec=sports

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