Sprinter Azeem unruffled by Puripol shadow
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Sprinter Azeem maintains composure amid criticism from netizens comparing him to Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson. At 22 years old, Azeem believes his career is just beginning and he has ample time to showcase his abilities on the global stage. The comparison arose following Puripol's impressive performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where he won the men's 100m and 200m titles, setting new records and becoming the first Southeast Asian sprinter to break the 10-second barrier.
Azeem, who currently holds the national record in the 100m with a time of 10.09 seconds, acknowledged that some have started questioning his potential in light of Puripol's success. Despite the doubters, Azeem remains undeterred, citing the support and motivation from those around him to help him come back stronger. Currently, he is focused on recovering from a groin injury sustained during the 100m final, which will sideline him for five to six weeks.
However, Azeem is determined not to let this setback define his career, stating that Aichi-Nagoya's Asian Games final experience was deeply meaningful and that he will return with renewed strength.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
