BJSS Newcomer Shines At Combined Events Meet

By Y.P.SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my Photos by FAIHAN GHANI

ROOKIE R. Kirthana showed that she had made tremendous progress when she dominated the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) International Combined Events (ICE) championships at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Bukit Jalil recently.

Kirthana, who joined the BJSS in July, was the overall winner in the girls’ Under-14 age group.

The lanky Perak-born lass, a Form Two student, was the winner in long jump, high jump and 100m, second in the 100m hurdles and shot put and ninth in the 800m.

A natural: Kirthana (centre) leading the pack in the Under-14 medley relay.

She accumulated 4,460 points to finish ahead of 27 other participants. In second place was Kirthana’s teammate Ling Wen Yi on 4,130 points.

Both Kirthana and Wen Yi contributed to BJSS emerging as the overall champions with 16,080 points in the team event.

The other members of the team were Munirah Ha’ali and Intan Safinas Samad.

Besides the girls’ Under-14 overall title, BJSS were champions in the girls’ Under-13 and boys’ Under-13 categories.

They were second to SMK Tun Hussein Onn in the boys’ Under-14 age group.

The two-day competition, an intiative by BJSS with support by Milo and Mizuno, was to provide a platform for Form One and Form Two students from BJSS to take part against their counterparts from other sports schools in Malaysia and invited teams.

BJSS principal Marina Chin said they had invited teams from Australia and Singapore.

“We are pleased with our students’ progress. Our coaches will get the chance to evaluate each student’s progress,’’ said Marina.

Participants in the Under-13 groups had to take part in five events — 80m hurdles, high jump, shot putt, long jump and 800m while those in the Under-14 age group in six events —100m hurdles, high jump, shot putt, 100m, long jump and 800m.

The final event in the two-day championships was the medley relay. BJSS were champions in both the Under-13 and Under-14 age groups.

BJSS coach K. Shankaralingam certainly had reasons to be pleased with their students’ results.

“We had set personal best as targets for them. They clocked impressive times and displayed excellent commitment. We are happy with the athletes’ overall progress,’’ said Shankaralingam.

He was particularly impressed with Kirthana’s progress.

“We had spotted her when she was a student at the SMK Gunung Rapat in Ipoh. That was in July. Within a short period, Kirthana has shown a lot of improvement,’’ said Shankaralingam.

Nestle Products sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong said the championships was well organised and created opportunities for juniors to gauge their progress.

“The Form One and Form Two students do not get a chance to take part in other age group competitions. The BJSS’ efforts should be lauded and encouraged,’’ added Ping Loong.