But that did not stop him from registering a personal best of 2.16m in the first Malaysian Grand Prix at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil yesterday to qualify for the Myanmar SEA Games in December. The qualifying mark is 2.12m.
The 21-year-old Navraj is the second high jumper to qualify for the Games. S. Navinraj, also from Johor, cleared 2.15m in the Asean University Games in Laos last December.
After clearing 2.16m in his first meet of the year, Navraj made an attempt to clear 2.18m but failed on all three occasions.
Lee Hup Wei, a three-time SEA Games gold medallist and, could only manage 2.08 to tie with Selangor’s Mohd Azli Ghazali. Former Asian champion Hup Wei was awarded the silver on countback.
Naturally, Navraj, whose previous best was 2.13m, dedicated his achievement to his mother (Manjit Kaur), who is his No. 1 fan.
“I was targeting 2.15m but I did better than that. I’m delighted with my efforts,” said Navraj, who will complete his pre-university studies at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) next week.
“I am excited as I will be making my debut in the SEA Games. My ambition is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,” added Navraj, who plans to be a lawyer.
There was also joy for two teenagers – Mohd Ammar Zakuan and Fathin Faqihah Mohd Yusuf – after qualifying for the Under-17 World Youth Championships (WYC) in Ukraine from July 5-10. Ammar clocked 55.01 to finish fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles but the time was good enough to beat the WYC qualifying mark of 55.80.
As for Fathin of Sabah, she clocked a personal best of 56.89 to win the women’s 400m. The qualifying mark is 57.60. Fathin, a Form Five student of SMK Tawau, said she never expected to improve her personal best by almost one second.
“I will train harder to further improve my time,” said Fathin, whose previous best was 57.64.
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