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15 Jul, 2018

HK Cheung grabs win with MSIG helping in training Affindi takes Mens

Hong Kong's Cheung grabs win with MSIG helping in training Affindi takes Mens

Participants praise the refreshing, tough natural trails at Malaysia Action Asia 50 warm-up

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15, 2017 – Although Malaysia Action Asia 50 warm-up race was the perfect opportunity for runners to train up for the annual Malaysia Action Asia 50 on 25 Nov, 2018, it showed no mercy on participants with it’s challenging hills and muddy trails. The race offered 2 distances - 10km and 22km catering for all ages and fitness abilities.

Flagged off this morning at 7am at Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa Resort, Malaysian elite runner Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin from Mizuno Malaysia Team clinched the 22km overall champion title in a blistering 2 hours 17 minute and 18 seconds, while Hong Kong MSIG Action Asia Development Programme female winner Chueng Man-Yee claimed the women’s title and the overall 3rd place in 02:43:44.

Affindi Bin Nudin, of Mizuno Malaysia Team, spoke highly of the marking and the whole race. “At around 18km, the tall grass and the downhill were both technical. I train 120km in mountains every week so the up hills were easy for me. The race marking of the whole route was very clear and I really enjoyed it.”

Women’s champion Cheung Man-yee (02:43:44), who is also the female winner of the 2017-18 MSIG Action Asia Development Programme and will represent Hong Kong at the Skyunning World Championship in Scotland this September, displayed tremendous mental strength and talent in her win. “The middle part of the course was the most challenging because of those deep slopes and many ups and downs. Sometimes the trails were also very muddy but the race was fun! The marking was very easy to follow because you see them very frequently,” Cheung Man-yee continued to talk about the mental challenges at the race, “The hills were steep but they were not very long. So I just told myself that I needed to run the first half. Then If I couldn’t run the whole hill, at least I ran half already with speed,” said Cheung who also came third on the overall podium.

A fierce battle also went on in the 10km race of the Malaysia Action Asia 50 warm up. Malaysian Ching Keong Lee from TG.SEPAT RUNNERS won in 01:02:57, only 1 minute and 5 seconds before Reza Rebuan, with Kean Kok Chuah a further 26 seconds back. Lee said: “I really enjoyed the race because it was fresh and challenging for me as I usually do road running. The natural trails with tall grasses and the downhill of the hills were all very technical, so it was a very refreshing race.”

18-year-old local Malaysian runner Wan Yong Chuah claimed the 10km female champion (01:02:57). “The climb after the down hills and the last part where we got out of the forest, there was another hill waiting were the most challenging part for me,” said Chuah.

The 10km route for beginners and novice trail runners offered a varied terrain of hills and flats, dirt trails and paved road, and a total of 425m of elevation gain with the highest point at 516m. The 22km was challenging with more than double the elevation gain (887m total) and a lot more dirt trails. Here runners found themselves surrounded by almost 100 per cent pristine rainforest with monkeys leaping from trees, the sound of very loud crickets, and just absolute ideal running conditions that put runners in that zone they’ve long lived for.

To minimize environmental damage to the natural route and make a clean green environment in Malaysia, the Malaysia Action Asia 50 – Janda Baik warm-up operated a strict No Cup policy. Runners are advised to bring their own water bottles or hydration packs and refill them at the water checkpoints throughout the course, as cups will not be provided.

The Malaysia Action Asia 50 – Janda Baik warm-up is organized by Action Asia Events and the event could not happen without the valuable support of HOKA One One, World of Sports, Action X Store, Cherengin Hill Convention & Spa Resort, Inspired Trial Runners, Royale International, Run Society, JKKK and Action Asia Foundation.

Race Results

Malaysia Action Asia 50 – Warm up

22km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin – Malaysia – Mizuno Malaysia – 02:17:18

2. Herve Huguenot – France – 02:35:54

3. John Colman Oshea – Ireland – 02:46:28

22km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Man Yee Cheung – Hong Kong – 02:43:44

2. Crista Toomey – United Kingdom – tok gajah runners – 03:12:49

3. Melinda Wang – Malaysia – 03:13:41

10km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Ching Keong Lee – Malaysia –TG.SEPAT RUNNERS – 01:02:57

2. Reza Rebuan – Malaysia – 01:04:02

3. Kean Kok Chuah – Malaysia – 01:04:28

10km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor - Time

1. Wan Yong Chuah – Malaysia – 01:22:43

2. Reiko Yamashita – Japan – 01:33:21

3. Athina Zulkifli – Malaysia – 01:40:43

Race Info:

Event:	Malaysia Action Asia 50 – Warm up
Date:	July 15, 2018 (Sunday)
Time:	7:00 a.m flag off for 22km - 7:15am for 10km
Location:	Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa Resort, Janda Baik, Malaysia
Distance:	10 km, 22 km
Website:	www.actionasiaevents.com