KOTA TINGGI – Little Hannah Zahra Mat Zainizam’s two-year wait to compete in the Ironkids paid off after she emerged as the champion in the girls category, here, yesterday.
The newly-turned 10-year-old Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Penawar 2 student said the last time she participated in Ironkids was in 2019 in Langkawi and came in fifth in the event.
The eldest of two siblings said she prepared for three months to face the Ironkids and set aside time to practice every time she came home from school.
“After school I focused on training for running and cycling in the evenings and if I had free time I trained for swimming.
“I feel very proud (because) this is the first time I got number one, the last time I joined the Ironkids in 2019 I got number five,” she told a press conference after the Ironkids.
Describing the Ironkids as very challenging, she said she did not get “‘cold feet” and would continue to participate in the Ironkids in the future.
The Ironkids was not held last year and 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, male participant Ikram Shrudin Johari, 10, said he did not expect to finish in fifth place despite it being his first time participating in the Ironkids.
“Satisfied because I was among the top five, I can say that all events in the Ironkids are challenging.
“But the most challenging part was when I used up my energy to swim and cycle, after that I felt very tired when running but thankfully still got to be in the top five,” said the Hidayah Islam Primary School pupil.
A total of 122 children aged seven to 10 from 10 countries competed in the Ironkids yesterday, which was the opener for the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast.
Participants in the boys and girls categories were involved in a 100m swim, 4km cycling race and a 1.3km run.
The Ironkids received a rousing response with parents seen giving solid support and words of encouragement and also running alongside their children.
The 5150 Desaru Coast and Desaru Coast Sprint Triathlon events start today and will culminate with the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast tomorrow. – Bernama, July 23, 2022
