TOKYO, Japan: National athlete, Azlan Kuste, proved that size does not matter when he once again broke the national 800 metres record at the 2025 Deaflympics, clocking 1 minute 58.75 seconds in the first semifinal at the Komazawa Metropolitan Stadium today.
Standing at only 158 centimetres tall, Azlan improved on the 1:59.40 he set on Fridat in the first-round heats, which had already beaten his previous record of 2:03.97 from the Jakarta Deaf SEA Games in August.
However, he did not qualify for the final as he was not among the top two runners in his heat or the next two fastest overall. He finished third in his semifinal.
“I am grateful to break the national record twice in a row and want to thank my parents for their constant support,” he told reporters through a sign language interpreter here today.
He said he was used to competing in back-to-back events and had already adapted through training. Although he missed the final, he felt he had given his best.
Azlan said the race plan created with his coaches helped him overtake other runners, especially with a strong sprint in the last 200 metres.
He will now shift his focus to the 5,000-metre final on Novmber 24. – Farah Najihah Zuraimi/BERNAMA
