Tokyo: Despite failing to book a slot in the final, the country’s men’s 4×100 metre (m) quartet still created glory when they managed to break the national record at the 2025 Deaflympics at Komazawa Metropolitan Stadium, today, with a time of 44.32 seconds (s) in the first round of heat one.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new record was contributed by Muhammad Zumar Azman, Muhammad Shahrul Azmer, Hazrul Shah Hamri and Muhammad Zamir Azman, thus erasing the old record of 44.36s set at the 2025 SEA Deaf Games in August.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Muhammad Shahrul said they were aware that the action in Tokyo would definitely be a major test for them because the world’s best line-up is competing. He noted the difficulty in excelling at this Deaflympics due to the strength of the competing teams. Additionally, factors such as wind and cold weather posed challenges as they were not usual conditions for the team.

Earlier, the teams of Colombia (42.11s), Japan (42.19s), and Ecuador (43.72s) that were in the heat qualified for the final tomorrow. According to the tournament format, the three fastest from each of the two heats and the next two fastest times qualify for the finals, with Malaysia in the bottom position with a time of 44.32s.

However, Muhammad Zumar believes that the Malaysian contingent still has a chance to show its mettle when the Malaysians compete in the 4x400m final tomorrow. ‘We take all this as experience for the future and will focus on the final event tomorrow with the biggest hope being to bring home a medal for Malaysia,’ he said.