DOUBLE JOY FOR CHEN SIBLINGS AS NATIONAL TRIATHLON CHAMPS, ESTHER NOW EYEING SEA GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) – The National Triathlon Championship which was held concurrently with the Putrajaya Asia Triathlon Cup (ATC Putrajaya) witnessed a double triumph for the Chen family when siblings Benjamin John and Esther Joy were crowned national champions in the men’s and women’s categories.

Benjamin emerged as the fastest local male racer after finishing the triathlon in 43rd place out of an international elite field of 65 participants with a time of 1 hour 1 minute 50 seconds, thus improving on his third placing last year.

“I always dreamt of winning this title coming one day, but I never thought it would be today. My sister has always been an inspiration to me. All this time, she has always been at the top but I have never been.

“I always aspired to be like her one day. So, when I managed to stand on the podium on the same level as my sister, it felt amazing,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Esther successfully defended her national women's champion title after finishing 22nd among 46 participants with a time of 1:05:35s at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex.

For Esther, today’s victory was a smashing start to the year where she is actively preparing to qualify for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, and has voiced her dream of ending Malaysia's medal drought in the triathlon event at the biennial sports games.

“I feel like I have made a lot of progress because I no longer have to rely on my running ability during the race. I can now also swim well and with a stronger swimming routine, everything will be better,” she said.

Meanwhile, Swiss champion Max Studer lived up to his status as the favourite, when the Olympian topped the elite men’s race (750m swim, 20km cycling, 5km run) at the ATC Putrajaya while Isla Britton of Canada won the elite women's category.

-- BERNAMA