Double Joy for Razani, Stephanie

From the NST

Muhd Razani Husain (left) and Stephanie Chok with their Powerbar Triathletes of The Year 2007 cheque and trophy at the prize-giving ceremony at Wisma OCM on Wednesday. — Pic: HAIRUL ANUAR ABD RAHIM


IT was double joy for Muhd Razani Husain and Stephanie Chok as they were not only crowned the Powerbar Triathletes of The Year 2007 but have also been included in the squad to December’s Korat Sea Games.

Razani, 39, was included in the triathlon team, while Stephanie was included in the duathlon team.Triathlon Association of Malaysia (TRIAM) president Cheah Choon Nam said the association is looking forward to a good outing by the duo.“These athletes were chosen mainly because of their discipline and attitude which we believe are are more important than their performance in certain tournaments,” said Choon Nam when naming the Sea Games squad on Wednesday.“We are aiming for two medals in the duathlon and hope that Kimberley (Yap) will be able to defend her triathlon gold.,”

Besides Razali, Stephanie and Kimberley, the squad includes Shahrom Abdullah, Heidilee Muhamad, Mariana Muhamad (duathlon) and Wei Kuo Hau and Ooi Chiew Wei (triathlon). Stephanie, named Triathlete of The Year for a second straight time, is happy to be chosen for the Sea Games but is worried about the short time she has to prepare for Korat. “I am really lucky to have defended the title because I won it by a difference of only 10 accumulated points since I skipped the race in Port Dickson because of my class.“It is difficult to juggle between my training, studies and work,” said the Sabahan, who is a research assistant at the Universiti Malaya Sports Centre and is also pursuing her Masters of Sports Science at the University Technology Mara.“My exam will finish at the end of this month and, hopefully, I will get more time to train,” added the 26-year-old Stephanie who will be competing in her second Sea Games.She competed in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games as a road race cyclist.