Sprint challenge for Tahira in Cambodia SEA Games duathlon

KUALA LUMPUR – The 2022 SEA Games women’s duathlon silver medalist Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid will face a tough task to defend her silver medal in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, which will commence on May 5.

Malaysian Triathlon Association (MTA) head coach Albert Tan Yi Wei said this follows a new and more challenging competition format introduced at the championship. Tahira, better known as the “iron woman”, has to participate in a sprint duathlon involving a 5km run, 20km of cycling and an additional 2.5km run.

In the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, last May, the standard duathlon event, which was contested, included a 10km run, a 40km bike ride and an additional 5km run.

“The chance to retain the silver medal in Cambodia is quite difficult, given that the format has changed to shorten the distance.

“We will change the strategy for Tahira this year as there could be other stronger sprint runners.

“Her speed in the Toyota Run on January 15, showed excellent progress. However, there will always be room for improvement,” he said.

Albert said the 33-year-old athlete based in Manjung, Perak, will return to full-time training at Bukit Jalil next Wednesday in an effort to sharpen her physical and mental skills, especially as she has never participated in a sprint duathlon before.

He, however, admitted that the lack of international duathlon championships being contested might require his side to prepare a simulation of the tournament ahead of the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, scheduled to take place from May 5 to 17.

At the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, last May, Tahira finished the standard duathlon competition covering a 10km run, 40km cycling and an additional 5km run with a time of two hours 14 minutes 22 seconds to win the silver medal. – Bernama, February 17, 2023