Universiade: Umar's 400m Challenge Ends With 7th Spot

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- SEA Games 400 metres (m) gold medalist Umar Osman’s challenge at the World University Games (Universiade) in Chengdu, China came to an unfruitful end when he only managed seventh place in the final today. 

The 20-year-old athlete from Johor, who was in lane one, recorded a run of 46.41 seconds (s) in the event held at the Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium. 

Portuguese runner, Joao Ricardo Agostinho Coelho hit the tape with a time of 44.79s, followed by Reece Holder from Australia in second place, while Romania’s Mihai Sorin Dringo took the bronze.

“I was not expecting to start from the most inner lane… my preferred lane is the eighth. 

“I am sorry for not contributing a medal for the country, in any case, this has been a valuable experience for me,” he said. 

Umar yesterday created a sensation of his own in Chengdu when he broke the national record for the second time in less than 24 hours with a time of 46.09s.

He broke his own national record of 46.34s, set at the 2023 Cambodian Games, for the first time during the heats with a time of 46.33s. 

Grace Wong, meanwhile, made it to the final of the hammer throw event with a throw of 61.37m  for a top-three finish in the qualifying round. 

-- BERNAMA