Andre Anura Shatters 12-year-old SUKIPT Long Jump Record To Stake Claim For Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- After 12 years, the Higher Education Institutions Sports Games (SUKIPT) long jump record was shattered by national long jumper Andre Anura Anuar at the 2026 edition, with the 2025 SEA Games gold medalist currently still awaiting the "green light" from Malaysia Athletics regarding his participation in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Representing Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Andre Anura recorded a jump of 7.78 meters (m) at Universiti Malaya today, erasing the old record of 7.53m held by Lukman Hakim Ramlan and set in 2014.

"I have already (passed the Asian Games qualification) if according to my coach, who told me, 'Andre, if possible you jump 7.6m then once you jump 7.6 we proceed to the Asian Games.' Something like that, but whatever it is, we wait for Malaysia Athletics.

"Actually, we don't even dare to say whether we've qualified or not yet because the shortlist hasn't come out. So maybe after Oman, then they will make it official. So about whether we've qualified or not, we are still waiting because the shortlist isn't out yet. Everything is still on the long list," he said when met after the competition ended.

Andre, who is set to depart for Oman on September 3, also targets to improve his season-best record there as final a preparation before heading to Japan.

"My target is to get a new season best if possible. Because after Oman, there's a two-week gap to the Asian Games. So if possible, get a new season best, then peak again at the Asian Games," he said.

Meanwhile, the Sabah-born athlete revealed that he will return to action in the triple jump event early next year for a special mission at the Malaysia SEA Games.

"Maybe early next year I might jump the triple jump again, try to start again for the SEA Games next year, maybe I'll take two events, long jump and triple jump because we have a mission at the SEA Games. So I am forced to commit to two events.

"As far as I'm concerned, I had already stopped the triple jump because we have Izzul, but Izzul is only in his second SEA Games, so maybe he needs a partner to compete alongside him to help each other," he said.

Today's competition saw the silver medal won by Muhd Harith Haikal from UPSI with a mark of 7.10m, while the bronze went to Tan Zhi Hang from TAR UMT (7.00m).

-- BERNAMA