Nauraj Singh won his third successive SEA Games high jump gold with former hat-trick achiever Lee Hup Wei taking the silver on the final day of the athletics programme at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday? (Aug 26).?
Both jumpers cleared a height of 2.24m – but Nauraj clinched the gold on a count back. Nauraj won his first gold in 2013 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar and retained the title two years later in Singapore.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Nhan won the bronze with a height of 2.18m.
Hup Wei achieved his Games hat-trick in Manila (2007), Laos (2009) and 2011 in Palembang, Indonesia.
And the Kajang-born Hup Wei had a clear message to his rivals that he is not quitting the sport instead, ??he is looking forward to the next Games in Manila in 2019.
“Yes. I am not quitting. I will be around and available for the next SEA Games. The gold is within my reach and the silver today is motivating for me to keep the challenge,” said Hup Wei who also won the Asian Championships in Amman in 2007.
Johor Bahru-lad Nauraj, who had his father Amarjit Singh and other family members in the stands watching him, was more happy and glad to win his third SEA Games.
“This is healthy for the sport in the country. I am happy and glad for Hup Wei for challenge he gave today.” said Nauraj, who holds the Malaysian record of 2.29m he did at the Singapore Open last year.
The 2.24m mark equalled the SEA Games record set by Loo Kum Zee in Chiangmai in 2005.
Malaysia also grabbed silver in the men’s 5,000m through K. Prabudass in 14:57.43. The gold went to Nguyen Van Lai of Vietnam in 14:55.15 while Indonesia’s Agus Prayogo (15:01.80) clinched the bronze.
