Pumped up: 100m champion Mohd Azeem Fahmi training hard for the men’s final today. — S.S.KANESAN/The Star
A WEEK before any race, national sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi would set his song playlist so he is ready to rock on the track.
Fittingly enough, the 19-year-old Auburn University athlete is a fan of indie rock (independent rock) from Malaysia and Indonesia, listening to bands like Hujan, Butterfingers, Bunkface and Efek Rumah Kaca.
During the training session at the Zhejiang Sports College to prepare for the 100m race today, the confident speedster could be seen uttering the lyrics of the songs silently to calm himself down before sprinting.
He hopes the rock songs will get his blood pumping as he looks to make an impression in the Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium today.
“Music helps me because I can shut out the surroundings. It is music and my sprint, that’s it. Indie rock songs have been a part of my life since my secondary school days,” said the former SMK Gunung Rapat student.
“I always curate my playlist a week before any race. I have selections from Malaysia and Indonesia.
“It’s the music that gets you going and the lyrics that relate to our lives.”
In his heat today, Azeem will face Iranian Hassan Taftian, who has a personal best of 10.03s and a season-best of 10.13s.
Azeem’s best is 10.09s, which is the national record while his season’s best is 10.11s.
In his last competition, Azeem recorded 10.26s in the semi-final of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The Teluk Intan-born athlete said he and coach Ken Harnden had done some work to rectify his weaknesses, including his niggly calves.
“After the World Championships, we had one month to prepare solely for the Asian Games. Yes, my timing in Budapest was nowhere near the national record but if we calculate the average of all my sprints this year, it is faster than last year.
“Last year, my average was 10.22s but this year, it is 10.19s, so I am improving.”
“The National Sports Institute (NSI) are helping me out with the calf problems while I have had several psychology sessions with Auburn. I need to let loose a little; to enjoy my race and not try too hard.”
Since he broke the national record, many believed Azeem could dip below 10 seconds, becoming the first Malaysian to do so.
The athlete believes it too.
“I know a sub-10s is around the corner but I just have to be patient,” said Azeem.
