National hurdler Muhammad Fakrul Afizul Nasir rewrite the Malaysian athletics history books once again, shattering his own national 400 meters hurdles record with a blistering performance at the Varsity Track & Field (VTF) Two Championships.

The 20-year-old sports star clocked an incredible time of 50.72 seconds at the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Stadium on Friday, easily storming ahead to secure the gold medal.

Fakrul’s sensational run convincingly erased his previous national record of 51.11 seconds, which he had established during the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuching, Sarawak.

The landmark victory marked the end of a patient two-year wait for the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student, who had experienced several agonizing near-misses in his previous attempts to better his landmark timing.

“Alhamdulillah, I was blessed to break the national record today,” a delighted Fakrul said after crossing the finish line. “I was able to break the national record today after waiting for this sweet moment for so long. I am so satisfied. Thank you to the coaching staff and everyone involved for my success. This success has fuelled my spirit even more.”

UPM Domination on the Track

The high-stakes final turned into an absolute masterclass of dominance by the UPM athletics camp. Hours before the main event, Fakrul’s UPM teammate, Mohd Aiman Najmi Mohd Anuar, had initially stolen the headlines during the morning session.

Aiman Najmi ran a superb tactical race in the semi-finals to temporarily claim the championship meet record with a time of 52.77 seconds.

However, that tournament milestone lasted just a few short hours. In the final showcase, Fakrul’s record-shattering gold-medal pace eclipsed everyone on the track.

Aiman Najmi pushed hard to claim the silver medal with a highly commendable personal time of 51.49 seconds, completing a stellar one-two podium finish for UPM.

The bronze medal went to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) representative Mohd Adib Irfan Azizan, who completed the podium lineup with a time of 52.82 seconds.

A Bright Era for Malaysian Hurdles

Fakrul’s brilliant technical progression signals a massive resurgence for the Malaysian 400m hurdles discipline, an event that had previously endured a prolonged competitive lull on the international stage.

Shaving nearly 0.4 seconds off a national record under intense championship pressure serves as a massive confidence booster for the young athlete.

With his track times consistently dropping, national coaches look at Fakrul’s rapid development as a highly encouraging sign for Malaysia’s podium prospects ahead of upcoming major regional assignments, including the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and broader Asian athletics circuits.