Kuala lumpur: National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi is confident his decision to continue his studies at Universiti Malaya (UM) after graduating in the United States will not affect his opportunities to compete on the international stage. The national 100m record holder said performance on the track remained the key factor in earning greater exposure and opportunities to compete at top-level events. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azeem expressed his belief that opportunities will follow as long as he continues to deliver his best performances, emphasizing the importance of results over discussions. "Once I achieve the results, many opportunities will follow. I can be sent to overseas competitions and compete in high-quality championships," Azeem stated in a recent interview. Azeem revealed that his decision to return to Malaysia after five years in the US was driven by family commitments and his aspiration to contribute to the development of Malaysian athletics. He noted the importance of family as his primary motivation, saying, "The biggest reason I came home is to give back to the community. I also want to make up for the time I've missed with my family. Five years in the US is a long time, and I missed many family events." The 22-year-old sprinter confirmed his plans to begin a master's degree at UM next year, following a short break after completing his bachelor's degree. He hopes his return will inspire the national sprint squad and elevate its standards on the international stage. "By returning to Malaysia, I hope I can motivate the national team because I know I'm in good shape to achieve something special internationally," he added. After graduating with a degree in sports science from Auburn University, Azeem has rejoined the national training programme. His focus is now on the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September, which serves as his primary target for the season.