One happy family: Raja Nazrin, Tuanku Zara and their children at the Sultan Azlan Shah run in Kuala Kangsar. — Bernama

KUALA KANGSAR: A total of 2,500 participants took part in the Sultan Azlan Shah Run here, filling up the quiet royal town with runners from all over the country.

The annual run, held for the third time this year, marks the birthday of Sultan Azlan Shah.

Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who was wearing a polo shirt and track pants, flagged off the 15km and 11km runners at the SMK Clifford school field.

Joining him was his consort Raja Puan Besar Perak Tuanku Zara Salim and his children, Raja Azlan Muzaffar Shah and Raja Nazira Safya, who were the darlings of the crowd.

After the flag-off, Raja Dr Nazrin took part in a 3km VVIP walk, together with Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, his wife Datin Seri Saripah Zulkifli and state secretary Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan.

The crowd was also entertained with various cultural performances before Raja Dr Nazrin and Tuanku Zara presented the grand prizes to the winners.

Paolo Valsecchi

However, the event was marred when a 46-year-old Italian from the United States collapsed seconds after he complained of a pain in his abdomen and died.

Kuala Kangsar OCPD ACP Abdul Ghafar Mohamad said Paolo Valsecchi , 46, who worked at a logistic company, ran about 3.5km before collapsing suddenly at about 7.30am.

Paolo complained of a pain in his abdomen to his friend and about 15 seconds later, he collapsed along Jalan Istana, near the Istana Iskandariah's marching field.

ACP Abdul Ghafar said Paolo, who was from South Carolina, could have suffered a heart attack although his friends stated that he was healthy the day before.

Paulo had been living in Kuala Lumpur for the last four years.

Dr Zambry also paid his respects and offered his condolences to Paolos' girlfriend, only known as Christina, and another friend, who were too distraught to speak to the media at the mortuary.

• Dollar rise hits oil, gold; euro sags on ECB cut bets
• Scomi Group secures RM98.5m Turkmenistan contract
• KLCI at fresh record close, on fund buying of banks, Tenaga
• Puncak Niaga to issue warrants, raise RM165m Sukuk
• Moody's: Core Chinese shadow banking products total 21 trillion renminbi
• I-Bhd, Thailand's Central Pattana to build shopping mall in iCity
• MISC falls in active trade
• Firm dollar hits oil, gold, shares; Nikkei scales new peak
• Allianz targets RM150m new business premiums this year
• Mah Sing's Meridin@Medini records pre-selection of RM261m (Update)
• Samsung racing towards downloading a whole movie in one second through super-fast 5G
• KLCI up nearly 14pts at midday (Update)
• RAM Ratings ups Menara ABS’s Sukuk outlook to stable
• Leon Fuat to raise RM35.58m from share sale (Update)
• AirAsia X eyes up to US$300m Malaysia IPO - term sheet

• Taiwanese fishermen burn Filipino flags in protest
• Yemen army jet crashes in Sanaa, pilot killed
• US scientist depressed and left suicide notes, Singapore public inquiry told
• Philippines holds elections vital for Aquino reforms
• Samsung announces 5G data breakthrough
• Police in US arrest 12-year-old for sister's murder
• Warming to hit half of plants, a third of animals
• 17 people shot at New Orleans parade: report

• Woods wins Players Championship
• Silver lining in Fort Lauderdale for Pandelela-Mun Yee
• Affendi ruled out with nerve injury
• Hubbard leads hot Dragons to another easy win
• Teenager Praveen a Clearcut winner at Bukit Kiara
• Shalin wants more victories before calling it a day next year
• Puvendran upsets top seed Alwin in U-17 final
• Second title for Ramdan in Europe
• Coach wants badminton doubles pairs to be battle ready
• Milo aim to go even further in developing Malaysian sports
• KLHC-Tenaga showdown once again
• Argentina and South Africa to play in Johor Baru
• Serena sweeps aside Sharapova to retain Madrid crown
• Nadal wins Madrid title for fifth triumph this year
• Maria confirms romance with Bulgarian Dimitrov

• Please wait.

• New SARS-like virus can probably pass person-to-person
• Nurul Izzah says not eyeing PKR presidency when mum steps down
• Coronavirus epidemic awaits, not certain to be severe - discoverer
• Merkel says has no secrets about her communist past
• Appeals court frees six backers of black-clad Egypt protest group
• Scomi Group secures RM98.5m Turkmenistan contract
• Who will be the new IGP?
• Italy's Letta urges ministers to avoid clashing in public
• Greek state workers to strike against teachers' walkout ban
• Brothers of Cleveland kidnap suspect say he was aloof for years - CNN