SEA Games walkers undergo training in Cameron Highlands

KUALA LUMPUR: Two national walkers preparing for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August, would start their training in Cameron Highlands starting May.

National coach Teoh Boon Lim said the training for the two walkers - Muhamad Khairil Harith Harun and Lo Choon Sieng’s - in Cameron Highlands would focus on their physical and mental strength.

“We chose Cameron Highlands because the weather there is cooler than Kuala Lumpur. We might be there for two to three weeks before returning to Kuala Lumpur and continue training routine,” he told reporters at the ‘Kita Juara 2017’ programme at the National Sports Council (NSC) here yesterday.

Boon Lim said before heading to Cameron Highlands, both walkers would be competing in two international competitions, namely the Asian Big Walk Championships in Japan (midMarch) and International Association of Athletics Federations championships in Spain (May).

Boon Lim said Malaysia had a good chance of winning a gold medal in the SEA Games from the walk event, since the walkers have been preparing well.

“We want to wrest the title that we have held for nine consecutive SEA Games and for the last time in Indonesia at the 2011 edition. In the 2013 and 2015 editions hosted by Myanmar and Singapore respectively, we failed to win the gold medal.

“I do not want the two walkers to hit their peak early because the main challenge and target is the SEA Games,” he said.

Boon Lim, a former SEA Games gold medal winner, said he would not any specific target for his two walkers in the two international competitions.

Meanwhile, Khairil and Choon Sieng have set themselves personal targets in Japan, that of to better their personal best times of 1 hour 29 minutes 38 seconds and 1’27:36s.

Speaking of the SEA Games, the 31-year-old Choon Sieng who will be competing in his fourth SEA Games said though it would be his fourth participation, this year’s SEA Games would be a different challenge altogether since the event would be held on the track and not on the road as usual. – Bernama