"I don't know why": Discus veteran Irfan left disappointed but vows to fight on
Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin's 56.37m throw was not enough for the top eight, but the four-time Asian Games athlete says his career is not over.
It was a tough day at the office for Malaysia's discus star Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday, 24 September.
The 31-year-old threw a best of 56.37 metres, which was not enough to place him in the top eight of the men's discus competition.
Frustration after the throw
Irfan did not hide his disappointment when speaking to Bernama after the event.
"I tried my best, and during the competition, everything felt okay. I don't know why the throw did not go as expected," he said.
It is a frustrating result for an athlete who has been one of Malaysia's most consistent field event performers for more than a decade.
A strong field
The medals went to throwers who were well ahead of the rest of the competition:
- Gold: Abuduaini Tuergong (China) – 64.26m
- Silver: Wu Nanjun (China) – 61.58m
- Bronze: Sadegh Samimishalamzari (Iran) – 60.32m
Irfan's throw on the day was nearly eight metres short of the winning mark and around four metres behind the bronze medal.
A long career
Aichi-Nagoya is Irfan's fourth Asian Games. He made his debut at Incheon 2014, and has been a regular in the national team since then.
Staying at the top level for so long in a demanding event like the discus requires dedication, and Irfan made it clear he has no plans to walk away because of one bad day.
Looking ahead
Irfan told Bernama he would evaluate his performance before turning his attention to next year's SEA Games and the Asian Championships. He stressed that this setback would not mark the end of his athletics career.
For Malaysian fans, that is welcome news. The SEA Games are a key stage for the country's field athletes, and an experienced thrower like Irfan remains an important part of the team.
Athletics hopes shift to the track
With Irfan out of the running, attention in the athletics camp now turns to the sprints. Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi won his 100m heat in 10.17 seconds, and fellow Malaysian Muhammad Umaira Subri also reached the semi-finals, which are scheduled for today (25 September).
Malay Mail noted that the athletics squad was still waiting for its first medal in Nagoya, so a strong run from Azeem would give the team a much-needed boost.
Part of a bigger picture
Irfan's result is a reminder of how hard it is to win medals in athletics at the Asian Games, where China, Japan, Iran and several other nations have deep talent pools. Even so, the experience gained at this level is valuable for Malaysia's athletes as they build towards future regional and continental events.
Key takeaways
- Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin threw 56.37m and missed the top eight in the men's discus on 24 September.
- China's Abuduaini Tuergong won gold with 64.26m.
- The 31-year-old is competing at his fourth Asian Games, having debuted at Incheon 2014.
- Irfan says he will now target next year's SEA Games and the Asian Championships.
FAQ
How far did Irfan throw at the Asian Games? His best throw was 56.37 metres, which did not place him in the top eight.
Who won the men's discus gold? China's Abuduaini Tuergong, with 64.26 metres.
What is next for Irfan? He said he would review his performance and then focus on next year's SEA Games and the Asian Championships.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail