Stopped in the First Round of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lalu Muhammad Zohri: I've Done My Best

Then Muhammad Zohri (Instagram @lalumohamadzohri_)

JAKARTA - Indonesian sprinter, Lalu Muhammad Zohri must be heartened because his steps at the 2024 Paris Olympics were stopped in the first round. Failed to present gold in the sport (sports) running, Zohri apologized and admitted that he had tried his best.

In the qualifying for the 100-meter running number which was held on Saturday, August 3 evening WIB, Zohri recorded a time of 10.35 seconds and finished in second place. The result was less than satisfactory because the time was slower than Harris Naquille with a time of 10.33 seconds which made him qualify.

In the first round, the runner from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) improved his time record to 10.26 seconds. However, this figure is not enough to bring him forward to the semifinals.

After an unsatisfactory result, Zohri expressed his obstacles in the match. He said, the qualifying break to the first half was too short.

"Actually, I was quite hot, different from the initial one. The only problem was that the time was too tight from qualifying to the first round," said Lalu Zohri as quoted from the release of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), Sunday, August 4.

"Earlier, I was waiting for the others, the others were walking inside, I came from the warm-up location, brought the id card, I chased them. Go in the room, change clothes, wear another match, wear a spike, it's right away. I was also surprised," he added.

Nevertheless, Zohri admitted that his competitors were indeed above their level. However, he considered himself might be able to record even faster times if the gap was longer.

"Honestly, their level is already above me. So if I race with them, there will be a race, that's what I take advantage of," explained the 24-year-old runner.

In my opinion, I am sure that if there is a little longer time lag for rest, maybe my time record can be 10.0 seconds or 10.1 seconds. If my personal belief is on fire again. I don't regret anything, the point is that this is a motivation for me, hopefully in the championship in the future it can be better," he added.

Zohri's 10.26 second time at the 2024 Paris Olympics was the same as he made in his debut in Tokyo 2020. As a result, he repeated his achievements in his second appearance at the world's most popular sporting event.

Zohri also apologized to his supporters for being eliminated early at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Even so, he considered himself to have struggled as much as possible.

"First, I want to apologize to all Indonesian people for not being able to give my best, but honestly I have performed as much as possible so this is the result," he concluded.