KUALA LUMPUR — Nur Izlyn Zaini bagged a surprise bronze for Singapore in the women's 100m hurdles at the 29th SEA Games on Saturday afternoon (Aug 26). 

The 19-year-old clocked 14.14sec to equal the national record set by Jannah Wong in June 2014, which was enough to win the Republic's first Games medal in the event since Heather Merican's bronze at the 1979 Jakarta edition. 

She finished behind Vietnam’s Tran Thi Yen Hoa (13.40s) and Malaysia’s Raja Nursheena (13.92s), and expressed surprise at the podium finish – her first ever at a SEA Games.

“I did not expect a medal,” she smiled. “When I was finishing, I was looking to the left and I realised (I could have) got a medal.

“At the finish line, I was just hoping for the times to be shown for confirmation. I am very happy and I’ve got to thank my competitors for the great push.”

Izyln, who represented Singapore at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, had struggled with knee injuries in both legs and entered the race only aiming to better her personal best of 14.44s. She also only got to know of her involvement in the race last month.

“I was expecting a 14.2s and wasn’t aiming for the national record this season, but next season, which is next year,” she said.

“After the Thailand Open two months back, the last competition to qualify for the event… I sort of shut down and focused on the relay instead of hurdles so to be training for it again, the feeling wasn't there – but I was (still) prepared.” 

Izlyn had run the anchor leg in the 4x100m women’s relay team that set a new national record of 44.96s yesterday and the bronze capped a good second outing at the biennial Games.

“I just wanted a personal best and to end on a good note for the season,” she said.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Ang Chen Xiang finished fifth with a time of 14.55s, which was 0.36s off his own national record.

Marathon winner Soh Rui Yong clocked 15:16.49 to finish fifth in the men’s 5,000m race.