Triathletes need to train smart, says Ghafur

MIRI: Local triathletes can make an impact in the three-event discipline at the international level if they are committed and systematic in their training.

Sarawak Triathlon Association president Datu Abdul Ghafur Shariff is confident with the right approach, the local talents can hold their own on the world stage.

“We want to produce more athletes like Kimberly Yap … and I believe we can with the focus being given to the development of our athletes,” he said after chairing a second meeting with the Sarawak International Triathlon 2008 committee here yesterday.

According to Ghafur, the event was aimed at exposing the local talents to competition against foreign athletes.

This year, Sarawak will field Daniel Bego (swimming), Syamsul Ali Hamdan (cycling) and Jenang Ungker (run) in the relay event, and Kimberly Yap, Ahmad Yoyo, Mohd Ghazali Hakiki, Jack Ho and Kershia Tan in the individual category.

Yap won two SEA Games gold medals in the triathlon individual category in 2005 and 2007.
Ghafur said a total of 300 athletes would be taking part this year compared to only 260 previously.

The event will be held on June 21 and 22 at Brighton Beach Miri with a total prize money of RM65,000.

“Athletes from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, China, the United States, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia are expected to take part. So far, we have received 25 entries from Malaysia,” he said.

The competition is divided into International Triathlon and Sarawak Sprint. The categories are men’s open (16 to 29 years old), men’s (30 to 39), men’s (40 to 49) and men’s veteran (50 and above).

There are two categories for women - 16 to 34 and 35 and above.

The event involves two disciplines - the Sarawak International Triathlon (Olympic distance) and the Sprint Triathlon.

The Sarawak International Triathlon has three events — 1.5km swim (open sea), 40km cycling (road) and 10km running (road) — while the Sprint Triathlon involves 750m swim (open sea), 20km cycling (road) and 5km run (road running).

The entry fee is RM70 for the individual event, RM100 for the relay event, and RM40 for the sprint event. Entries close on June 9.

For details, call 082-440441 or 444926 (Miza) or fax 082-446360 (attention to Miza) or email to sukhamis@sarawaknetgov.my or hashim@sarawaknet.gov.my or log onto http://www.satria.triathlon.gov.my/

Enquiries can also be sent to Malaysian Triathlon Association, Kuala Lumpur — attention Chan Chee Seng 03-78055290; 03-92826633 or fax 03-92863033) — or made through 012-2959892; 019-2959892 or email to infor@triathlonmalaysia.com, or the secretariat (082-472537/472538), Liaw Boon Hua (016-8993433), Awang Hashim (019-8583520) and Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry (085-419624).