Tuesday December 30, 2008

Foreigners win 12-Hour Walk

By Y.P. SIVAM

IT was yet another triumphant outing for Belgium’s Alexander Vandenhoek and Hong Kong’s Kwok Chik Ha in the 12-Hour Walk held in Putrajaya recently.

Vandenhock defended his men’s Open title in the championships while Kwok was the winner in the women’s category.

It was a close battle for Vandenhock in the men’s category as Malaysia’s R. Thevendra and Ghana’s John Senanu Segbe were in an uncompromising mood and gave the defending champion some anxious moments.

But Vandenhock, with experience on his side, completed 94km within 12 hours to walk away with the title.

Thevendra and Segbe completed 91km each but the Malaysian finished in a faster time and was declared the runner-up.

They did it: The winners posing for a group photo after the prize presentation ceremony.

Kwok, who was the winner in the women’s event last year in Penang, was in fine form and completed 83km in 12 hours.

Teammate So Kit Sum was second with 74km while Malaysia’s Lim Siew Lean was third on 71km.

Malaysia veteran walker B. Thirukumaran was the winner in the men’s 50km event, introduced this year. The former international clocked 5’ 29:52 to finish ahead of Thevendra (6’03:24) and Bill Purves (6’47:43).

In the women’s category, Kwok and So made it a 1-2 for Hong Kong. Kwok clocked 6’53:14 while So was timed 7’46:31 while Malaysia’s Teo Ah Liew was third on 8’09:42.

The organisers, Race Walkers Asso-ciation of Malaysia (RWAM), had introduced the 50km event to provide Malaysians the chance to prepare for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

However organising secretary Khoo Chong Beng, a former international, said the times recorded by the participants in the 50km event was far from impressive.

“We have to initiate more training programmes and competitions for our Malaysian participants. The RWAM is keen to organise more 50km walk events,’’ said Khoo.

RWAM president Datuk Eddy Chen and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi gave away the prizes to the winners.

Chen said they were happy with the response which surpassed their target of 350 participants. “A total of 508 participants had registered for the event and 448 completed the 12-hour walk. We will look into ways to make the 12-hour walk more interesting in the coming years,’’ said Chen.

Results

Men

12-Hour:

1. Alexander Vandenhoek 94km;

2. R. Thevendra 91km;

3. John Senanu Segbe 91km

50km:

1. B. Thirukumaran 5’ 29:52;

2. R. Thevendra 6’03:24;

3. Bill Purves 6’47:43

Women

12-Hour: