Pengiran vows to challenge favourite Danish at Malaysia Games

The upcoming Malaysia Games will see Sabah's Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam challenging Johor's top junior sprinter, Danish Iftikhar Roslee, according to the athletics competition organizer. The event kicks off on Sunday at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Stadium in Serdang. Danish, 19, is confident after setting personal best performances in the 100m (10.44 seconds) and 200m (20.73 seconds) finals at the World Junior Championships in Oregon last week.

Proud of his achievements, including winning 100m and 200m bronze medals at the Thailand SEA Games earlier this year, Danish is favored to secure a sprint double gold in both events at the Malaysia Games.

Pengiran, competing in his third and final Games, is optimistic about his chances in the 200m, stating, "I will be going all out to get the better of him in the final." Despite acknowledging Danish's strength in the blue ribbon 100m event, Pengiran is confident about his ability to secure the gold medal in his personal favorite, the 200m.

The Sandakan-born sprinter has a personal best of 10.48 seconds in the 100m and 21.15 seconds in the 200m, achieved at the Asian Under-23 Championships in Ordos, China last month. Pengiran made his debut at the Malaysia Games in 2022, earning a silver in the 4x100m relay and a bronze in the 200m. His performance improved two years later, with silver in the 4x100m and bronze in the 200m in Sarawak.

Pengiran has also excelled at the Asian Under-20 Championships, winning two bronze medals in the 200m at Yecheon, South Korea in 2023 and Dubai in 2024. In addition to his achievements at the national level, Pengiran secured the 200m gold at the Malaysian Open in Kangar last year, clocking 21.41 seconds.