Mohd Farhan Ready To End Malaysia's 36-Year Wait For Judo Gold

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysian judo exponent Mohd Farhan Uzair Mohd Fikri is determined to end the country’s 36-year wait to win a gold from judo in the SEA Games. Mohd Farhan, 21, said he had gone through better intensive training and preparations through good exposure and training with experienced judo exponent from Mongolia, Davaadorjiin Tömörkhüleg, who had competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. "After undergoing very good intensive training, I am more confident of winning a gold medal and end the country’s wait for a gold medal in the sport,” said Mohd Farhan who competes in the Below 73kg when met at the ‘Kita Juara’ programme held at the Renaissance Hotel. The SEA Games athletes are housed at the hotel as their final phase of centralised training before the SEA Games campaign from Aug 19-30. In the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Mohd Farhan managed a bronze medal after defeating his opponent from the Philippines in the Below 66kg. Meanwhile, National judo coach Marjan Abdullah said competition in the SEA Games this time around would be intense, especially with home fans expecting to see a Malaysian on the gold medal podium. The SEA Games judo competition which offers six gold medals is scheduled on Aug 26 and 27, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). In the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Malaysia managed only five bronze medals from judo while the last time Malaysia won a gold medal in judo was in 1981 in the Manila SEA Games. -- BERNAMA