Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports
Shahrir Mohd Anuar holds the B Division boys 100m record of 10.90s. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
For a person who only joined track and field in primary school because no other Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) appealed to him, Shahrir Mohd Anuar has had great success.
Shahrir is the National Schools B Division boys’ champion in both the 100m and 200m. He won the races in times of 10.90s and 22.48s respectively. The timing of 10.90s is a B Division boys’ record and the 100m is obviously where his strength lies.
10.90s may be stated officially as his personal best time but he has gone faster – 10.88s, to be exact. That time, clocked at the International Children’s Games (Under-15) in 2008, was not recognised officially as it was run in conditions that exceeded the legal wind limit (+2.0 m/s).
That, though, did not mar his feelings for that performance which also saw him claim the International Children’s Games 100m title. He ranks the race as his proudest achievement so far.
Shahrir recounted, “I managed to beat athletes from powerhouses such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Though I felt belittled in their presence because their seniors are world champions and world record holders (who else but Usain Bolt is he referring to) and Singapore is like so small compared to them, the win has taught me to be confident in one’s abilities and that anything is possible if you work hard for it.”
From the International Children’s Games in 2008 to the National Inter-School Track and Field Championships final in 2009, it has been a year in which Shahrir has consistently delivered sub-11s performances. As such, it was not much of a surprise when he was named in the Asian Youth Games squad.
“I was expecting it. It was just a matter of time for the confirmation to come. I have been clocking some of the fastest times locally so I felt I stood quite a good chance of being selected,” Shahrir said.
Unlike others who had to experiment with different events before finally settling on one or a couple, Shahrir has always run the 100m and 200m since his time in Elias Park Primary (where Sports School senior and National Junior 100m record-holder Calvin Kang also studied).
“I was lazy so I didn’t want to run any distance longer than that,” the stout boy laughed.
The 100m and 200m are not the only constants in his athletics journey so far. His coach, Remy Gan, is another.
“He has been with me since I started out in primary school and he has been a mentor to me, watching me grow up. We’ve been through several down periods and I’ve learned from him to not be affected by them and to brave through them,” Shahrir shared.
The power and excitement of the sprints is what keeps Shahrir going in the sport.
“I enjoy the thrill of sprinting away from everyone, in the case where I am leading, or catching up with people, in the case where I am trailing. I also enjoy the excitement that comes with the unpredictability of a race which forces one to adapt to the changes in a split second.”
A place in the sprint final is clearly on the mind of this sprinter who turned 16 this year on January 24.
“I want to make it to the final and in the process, achieve a personal best time as well,” Shahrir said confidently.
If he can beat the Jamaicans, why not the Chinese, Japanese and the rest of Asia?
Go Shahrir!
Shahrir, who is 16, got a big boost in his confidence when he beat Caribbean sprinters to win the 100m at the International Children’s Games in 2008. (Photo 2 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
just a note: Donovon Bailey who won gold in Atlanta 1996 was Jamaican and so was Linford Christie. Both of them were running for Canada and Great Britain respectively. As did the disgraced Ben Johnson who also ran for Canada. as for Trinidad and Tobago, the name at the top of my head would be Ato Bolden.