Soh rejoicing after his win and (below) the world champion breezes through the Selangor Towerrunning Championship. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
Runner beats over 200 participants to bag top prize in Shah Alam race
MORE than 200 tower runners gathered at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building in Shah Alam for the Selangor Towerrunning Championship.
The event, organised by Malaysian Towerrunning Association (MTA) and Selangor Health Partnership, was part of a health initiative by the state government.
The programme also aimed to promote an active lifestyle to combat obesity that affected 60% of the Malaysian population.
“An important aspect of sport is community spirit.
“We have to find sports that everyone can take part in,” said state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin after the event.
“This sport is cost-effective as all you need is a pair of shoes.
“Some participants don’t even wear them,” she added.
Participants lining up for the tower run at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building in Shah Alam.
Jamaliah said tower running could also be included for those living in high-rises.
World champion Soh Wai Ching, who conquered the tower in two minutes and five seconds, said the building was “beginner- friendly” as it had lower step height as well as fewer floors.
He hoped a workshop could be held there to promote tower running.
The event was held for the first time at the Shah Alam landmark, a 21-storey building with 568 steps, named after the former Sultan of Selangor.
Among the other participants were Michele Tan (ranked 6th) and Muhammad Hazim Zuhairi Azahari (ranked 12th).
Valerie Sarah Ong putting her best foot forward, while Muhammad Hazim (bottom) runs barefoot.
There were also runners from countries such as Kenya, Nepal, Vietnam and Singapore.
After three rounds, the best of 30 from the male and female categories proceeded to the second round.
Subsequently, the top 10 of both categories advanced to the finals.
The first round was flagged off by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari while the second round was by Jamaliah.
Soh took top prize in the men’s open category with Muhammad Hazim hot on his heels, followed by Muhammad Afiq Mohd Ali.
In the women’s open category, Eunice Nyawira Muchiri from Kenya took the top spot, followed by Tan and Serene Cheong of Singapore.
Top prize winners of both categories took home RM1,500 and a trophy each.
Second and third place winners received RM1,100 and RM800 respectively and trophies.
MTA president Ravinder Singh said over 1,000 participants had shown up to the weekly tower running training events at MBPJ Tower in Petaling Jaya.
He hoped the sport could be included in schools as it is an activity students can engage in even if it rains.
“The impact of climbing the stairs for 15 minutes is equivalent to walking 10,000 steps, which would take two hours,” he said.
