While Nur Afrina thundered home in a new Games record in the women’s 100m final, Danish Iftikhar was involved in a close fight with another Danish, Irfan Tamrin of Selangor, right until the end in the men’s race at the Sarawak Stadium today.

Danish Iftikhar, though, managed to hold off Danish Irfan Tamrin to cross the finish line in 10.53s, leaving the latter to settle for silver in 10.60s.

Pahang’s Erfain Feerzan Qhan Yazid took bronze in 10.66s.

“Everyone gave their best … there was stiff competition right from the semifinals to the final. I just placed my faith in god because I had trained hard,” said the 17-year-old Danish Iftikhar.

He hopes to continue in the same vein and bag two more gold medals in the 200m and 4x100m events on Friday.

Meanwhile, in the women’s blue riband event, Nur Afrina proved too strong as she breezed to victory in 11.64s, erasing the old mark of 11.82s set by former national ace Siti Fatima Mohamad of Johor at the 2008 edition in Terengganu.

“This is my final Sukma appearance and I’m happy to have achieved my target of a new Games record and a gold medal for Selangor,” said Nur Afrina.

The five-day athletics competition, which offers 47 gold medals, kicked off today.