TANJONG MALIM, Nov 10 – Three staff members from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully participated in the prestigious National Athletics Malaysian Government Servants’ Welfare and Sports Council (MAKSAK) Games 2024, held at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak Darul Ridzuan, from November 7 to 10, 2024.
Muhamad Fitri Amir Ramli from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), Dr. Eraricar Salleh from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT), and Nur Suzana Adlizan Jasni from the Department of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation (JTNCPI) represented MAKSAK Johor as sprinters in the 100m, 200m, and relay events, competing in either the Men’s Junior Veteran, Women’s Junior Veteran, or Women’s Senior Veteran categories.
In the highly competitive 200m Men’s Junior Veteran event, Muhamad Fitri achieved an impressive time of 25.34 seconds, winning the race. This victory offered some consolation after his unexpected sixth-place finish in the 100m event, where he clocked a time of 12.17 seconds. Despite battling ongoing knee injuries for nearly a year, his performance in the 200m was commendable.
Furthermore, Muhamad Fitri was part of the victorious Johor team in the 4x100m relay, where the quartet secured first place in a thrilling race. The Perak MAKSAK team consistently challenged the Johor team until the final leg, when Muhamad Fitri, as the anchor runner, demonstrated his exceptional sprinting ability.
For Dr. Eraricar, participating in three events—100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays—proved to be a demanding endeavor. As her first experience as a MAKSAK Johor athlete, she cited lack of fitness and limited competitive exposure as reasons for her performance. Nonetheless, she finished fifth in the Women’s Senior Veteran 100m category and is determined to improve in future MAKSAK events.
Similarly, Nur Suzana Adlizan, a seasoned participant in previous National Athletics MAKSAK Games, including the one in Kuantan, Pahang, in 2018, faced challenges in this competition. Although her return to the Johor team did not produce the desired results, her participation in four events (100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m) in the Women’s Junior Veteran category is an achievement in itself. Competing against many former national and state-level athletes, she consistently gave her best in every event.
Congratulations to all three UTM staff members for their dedication, resilience, and discipline displayed throughout the tournament. These qualities are hoped to inspire other UTM staff to lead healthier lifestyles and incorporate these values into their workplaces and everyday lives.
