KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s top sprinter, Lalu Muhammad Zohri, has reportedly withdrawn from the men’s 100 meter final at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
The trainer, Eni Nuraini, explained that Lalu Muhammad Zohri had to withdraw due to a thigh muscle injury.
Based on Eni Nuraini’s explanation, Lalu Zohri initially got injured while warming up before appearing in the men’s 200 meter number, Monday (8/5/2023).
Even though he was injured, Lalu Zohri continued to strive to perform optimally until he won a bronze medal in the men’s 200 meters.
Also read: SEA Games 2023: Running with Pain, Zohri Takes Bronze in the 200 Meter Number Debut
After that, he returned to fighting in the men’s 4×100 meter relay with Bayu Kertanegara, Wahyu Setiawan, and Sudirman Hadi, on Wednesday (10/5/2023).
As a result, Lalu Zohri et al succeeded in winning a gold medal thanks to a record time of 39.11 seconds.
This achievement is a historical record for Indonesia. This is because before this, Indonesia last won a gold medal in the men’s 4×100 meters at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta-Palembang.
After making history for Indonesia, Then Zohri continued his struggle in his flagship number, namely the men’s 100 meters.
Also read: SEA Games 2023: Reasons for Zohri to Participate in the 200 Meter Number which is not his Mainstay
The men’s 100 meter race at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia took place on Friday (12/5/2023).
Then Zohri managed to record a time of 10.56 seconds in the heat session so he was entitled to advance to the final.
However, Lalu Zohri, who had pocketed a ticket for the final, decided to withdraw due to injury.
Eni Nuraini as the coach explained that this decision had to be taken so that Zohri’s injury would not get worse.
Also read: Qualifying for the Men’s 100 Meter Final, Zohri Has the Opportunity to Add Medals
In this case, the coach and the athlete are also considering readiness to appear at the Asian Games which will take place in the next few months.
“Trained quadriceps or quadriceps muscles. Just when he was running in the 100 meter heat he was hit again, pulled again,” said Eni Nuraini in a release received by Kompas.com, Friday (12/5/2023) afternoon WIB.
“Actually, Zohri is also in the final, but because we are afraid that his injury will get worse, it’s better not to take part later in the final,” he added.
“Because in a few months there will be the Asian Games, I’m afraid the recovery will take longer,” Eni Nuraini explained.
Also read: Zohri said after failing to win a medal in the 2021 SEA Games: No luck…
Eni Nuraini explained that currently Zohri has been treated by him as a doctor from the General Board of the Indonesian Athletics Association (PB PASI).
“It has been compressed with ice cubes and earlier it has also been pricked with a needle. It’s a shame, but there are more important things, the Asian Games and Olympic qualification which are also the goals and targets,” said Eni.
Zohri’s decision to withdraw from the men’s 100 meter final cost Indonesia the chance to add another gold medal.
Even so, the Chef de Mission (CdM) of the Indonesian contingent at the 2023 SEA Games, Lexyndo Hakim, can respect the decision that has been taken.
Also read: 2023 SEA Games Standings: Add 7 Gold, Indonesia Still Stuck in 4th Rank
Lexyndo Hakim also advised Zohri to recover soon and return to his maximum performance in the following events.
“We respect all decisions from the PB PASI official team. It’s like the best achievement is in sight, the potential for gold,” said Lexyndo Hakim.
“But again, there is a bigger interest, the athlete himself, and of course there is the best achievement that Zohri must and can achieve in the future,” he added.
“So take a step back to run a thousand steps forward. I’ll leave a message to Zohri to keep up his spirits, I hope his injury heals quickly and he can run faster again at the Asian Games and Olympics,” said Lexyndo Hakim.
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