Aliff Iman ends SUKIPT with 4x100m record
Aliff Iman Cements UPM Legacy with Record-Breaking 4x100m Gold, Closing SUKIPT Chapter
Source: Utusan Malaysia · August 31, 2026 at 12:01 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA (UPM), UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM) ARENA, UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS (UPSI), POLITEKNIK MALAYSIA, 31 AUGUST 2026 —
Aliff Iman Cements UPM Legacy with Record-Breaking 4x100m Gold, Closing SUKIPT Chapter
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Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) sprint athlete Aliff Iman Mohd Fahimi delivered a historic finale to his Sukan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi (SUKIPT) 2026 campaign by anchoring the men’s 4x100m relay to a gold medal and a new championship record of 39.98 seconds—the first sub-40-second time in SUKIPT history—at the Universiti Malaya Arena on Friday.
His performance also marked the end of his competitive tenure at the biennial university games, capping a career defined by resilience after a six-month injury layoff.
The victory underscores UPM’s dominance in Malaysian university athletics while signaling a generational handover in the sport. Aliff Iman, who had previously set the SUKIPT record of 40.98 seconds in 2024, now leaves behind a legacy that includes not only his personal achievement but also the mentorship of junior teammates Ahmad Amir Aiman Mohd Kamaruddin, Reeve Kua Man Hong, and Mohammad Haziq Mohd Akhir—the first-time participants who helped shatter the previous benchmark.
The feat follows a 2024 record of 40.98 seconds by a senior UPM quartet, solidifying UPM’s status as Malaysia’s sprint powerhouse.
Aliff Iman’s emotional closure to SUKIPT came after a six-month hiatus due to a lower-back injury sustained post-SEA Games in Thailand last year. His return to competitive action in SUKIPT 2026—his first major event since recovery—proved pivotal, as he described the sub-40-second milestone as a "dream come true" after two years of preparation. "I came with the goal to break the old record set by the senior quartet in 2024," he told reporters.
"This is even more special because I’m passing the baton to these junior athletes—it’s a renewal for UPM’s sprinting legacy. Just like Jonathan Nyepa and Muhammad Zulfiqar Ismail left their mark, I’m doing the same in my final SUKIPT."
The podium was completed by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), led by national sprinter Danish Iftikhar Muhammad Roslee, who secured silver in 40.16 seconds, and Politeknik Malaysia with bronze (41.75 seconds). In the women’s 4x100m, UPSI claimed gold (46.60 seconds), while UPM took silver (47.72 seconds) and Politeknik Malaysia bronze (50.53 seconds), reflecting the depth of Malaysia’s university athletics pipeline.
Aliff Iman’s triumph carries broader implications for Malaysian track and field, particularly as the country gears up for regional and international competitions in the coming years. His ability to rebound from injury and mentor younger athletes aligns with UPM’s long-standing tradition of producing elite sprinters, a trend that has positioned the university as a breeding ground for national relay teams.
The sub-40-second barrier in SUKIPT also sets a new benchmark for future editions, potentially inspiring other institutions to invest in sprint development.
For Aliff Iman, the moment was bittersweet. "This is my last SUKIPT, so I gave everything for UPM," he reiterated. His departure leaves a void, but the record he set—and the junior quartet he guided—ensures UPM’s sprinting legacy remains unbroken. With the next SUKIPT edition slated for 2028, the focus now shifts to whether Malaysia’s university athletes can sustain this momentum ahead of ASEAN and Commonwealth Games qualifiers.
For now, Aliff Iman’s final sprint stands as a defining chapter in Malaysian university sports history.
Related: Aliff Iman Mohd Fahimi