Detrimental effects of COVID-19 lockdown on sports and athletes

>> September 11, 2021

The lockdowns imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had multifaceted effects on athletes, impacting their physical fitness, training routines, mental well-being, and career opportunities, among other aspects of their professional and personal lives. 


Recently, a global study investigated training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of 12,526 athletes from 142 countries and six continents during the COVID-19 lockdown (Washif et al., 2021). 

Based on this study, most athletes wanted to maintain training and disagreed with the idea of not training during lockdown. However, they had moderate knowledge and beliefs about training disruptions, de-training, and their effects. 

Furthermore, the study reported that during lockdown, athletes trained alone and focused on general fitness and health maintenance. Specific training, such as endurance and interval training, was challenging to maintain at pre-lockdown levels. 

The authors also noted that training frequency, duration, and intensity were reduced for most athletes. 

The study provides insights for policy makers, athletes, and their teams regarding lockdown challenges, and ideas to adapt training practices during similar disruptions. 

More insights regarding the general impact of lockdown on athletes from the study and other resources, are provided below.

Physical, physiological, and performance effects 

Decreased fitness levels as a result of lack of regular and intensive training, which affects cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and endurance, etc. 

Weight gain or loss. Changes in dietary habits (in negative ways), combined with decreased physical activity, have negative impacts on athlete's body composition. 

Reduced skill proficiency due to missing regular practice that diminish skill levels in certain sports (particularly those that requires sophisticated equipment). 

Increased injury risks from a sudden resumption of intense training post-lockdown. 

Mental and emotional effects 

Mental health concerns may be triggered due to increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress, resulted from uncertainty about the future and disruptions in routine. 

Lack of motivation, as a result of the absence of competitions, as well as structured training and regular interaction with teammates. 

Concerns about returning to pre-lockdown performance levels may also induce stress. Changes in routine and environment (home training; limited resources) can lead to distractions and decreased concentration. 

Athlete's career and future 

Lost opportunities, e.g., sponsorship deals. Missing key events may impact athlete ability to look for, or be scouted or gain sponsorships. 

Extended lockdowns or multiple lockdowns can potentially shorten the career span of athletes, especially in sports with "limited active years."

Nevertheless, it's worth noting that lockdown effects can vary depending on the athlete's sport, level of professionalism, geographical location, among others. 

For example, the Washif et al. (2021) study outlined that higher level athletes (e.g., world class, international-level) had better access to resources and were more receptive to remote coaching. 

"Higher level athletes had a stronger desire to maintain training, retained training specificity to a greater degree, had better access to resources, and were more receptive to remote coaching compared to lower level athletes during the COVID-19 lockdown" (Washif et al., 2021). 

Lockdowns significantly altered athletes' lives and routines, impacting physical health, mental well-being, and career trajectories, highlighting the need for specific assistance, as well as adaptability and resilience in unprecedented times.

Reference
Washif JA, Farooq A, Krug I, Pyne DB, Verhagen E, Taylor L, et al. Training during the COVID-19 lockdown: knowledge, beliefs, and practices of 12,526 athletes from 142 countries and six continents. Sports Medicine. 2021; 1-16. (Link)

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Ziyad Zolkefli threw 17.94m shot put at Tokyo Paralympics

>> August 31, 2021

Malaysia's Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli threw 17.94m in men's shot put (F20) of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics today (31 Aug).


The 31-year-old surpassed his own world record of 17.29m he set in 2017 world Paralympic championships.  

He opened with a distance exceeding his world record by 2cm (17.31m) before registering 16.87m, and then his best distance in the third throw.
Ziyad Zolkefli has thrown 17.94m in men's shot put

His fourth throw gave him a distance of 17.62m, but the rain started shortly, right before the final two throws, and seen affecting all the competitors; Ziyad's last two throws were 16.31m and 16.39m, respectively.

Ziyad's best throwing distance also exceeded the Malaysian able-bodied national record of 17.53m set by Adi Alifuddin en-route to win silver at 2011 SEA Games.

Very unfortunate that he was competing "under protest" and declared as DNS (did not start), along with two other athletes Jordi Congo (Ecuador) and Todd Hodgetts (Australia).

The Gold medal went to Ukrainian Maksym Koval who threw 17.34m, and officially breaking Ziyad's world record.

Ziyad won gold medal during the last Paralympic edition in Rio, throwing a distance of 16.84m, which was a new games record.

Men's shot put (F20) Tokyo Paralympics - official result

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The Case for Invalidating 10.49 World Record: Thompson-Herah 10.54 in 100m Should Be a New World Record

>> August 22, 2021

1. This morning, 22 August 2021 (or 21 August in Eugene, Oregon, US.), ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH of Jamaica has posted the all-time 2nd fastest time in the 100m, she clocked a time of 10.54 (+0.9), which could have been a NEW WORLD RECORD (WR).

2. Florence Griffith-Joyner's 10.49 WR set during the 1988 U.S Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, has been the most suspicious record in athletics; Flo-Jo's best time before that season was 10.96, half of a second slower.
Elaine Thompson-Herah clocked 10.54 in 100m

3. Since 1997, the Association of Track and Field Statisticians (ATFS) flagged the 10.49 as "probably wind-assisted".

4. I could talk about "quit athletics shortly, introduction of out of competition drug testing, and early death (10 years later)" - but we keep it ‘shorter’ (save for another story and no speculation).

ATFS Annual in 1997 started questioning the validity of 10.49 

5. What is the main issue with the 10.49 ‘WR’ - simply about the accuracy of wind reading; the anemometer (wind instrument) was most probably malfunction during Flo-Jo's (quarterfinal 1) race (and the next one), and produced zero or "0.0 m/s wind".

6. The maximum limit of tailwinds is 2.0 m/s (this value itself, would give a benefit of ~0.12 secs faster time).

7. The quarterfinals of the 1988 U.S Olympic Trials: Flo-Jo was in heat 1 (wind: 0.0 m/s) setting 10.49. In heat 2 (0.0 m/s), Shield Echols set 10.83 (i.e., her lifetime 'PB'). In heat 3, the anemometer was "ok/fixed?" and recorded 5.0 m/s winds, won by Gwen Torrence in 10.78w. 

8. During the same day, the same anemometer recorded wind-assisted for all the Round 1 heats (>2.7 m/s).

9. The wind-reading of 0.0 m/s in quarterfinals 1 and 2 was not accurately represent the possible racing conditions. 

10. The wind-reading was not consistent with the timings the athletes achieved. The meeting officials raised their concerns about the wind readings. Also, an extremely high number of seasonal and personal bests was recorded during quarterfinals 1 and 2. Other argument included flag flapping wildly, suggesting strong winds. 
Flo-Jo recorded 10.49 in 1988 U.S. Trials (and 10.61 in Olympics)

11. The estimated wind-reading for Flo-Jo’s ‘WR’ heat 1 race was greater than 5.0 m/s (and the heat 2 was >3.0 m/s).

12. Six athletes who recorded massive improvements during the quarterfinal 1 (Flo-Jo’s heat), have recorded ~0.28 secs slower during their semi-final races, even though the races were ‘assisted’ by tailwinds greater than >1.3 m/s. Logically, each of them would set an even faster time, including Flo-Jo, i.e., ~10.42.

13. At the same time above (quarterfinals), the men's triple jump was held;  just next to the track, same direction; here, Willie Banks registered 18.20m, exceeded WR, but wind-assisted: 5.2 m/s. In fact, all of his jumps were wind-assisted (>3.4 m/s).

14. The available 'evidences' above provided enough suspicion to the ‘current WR of 10.49’ by Flo-Jo (i.e., one of my all-time favorites). 

15. Flo-Jo’s 10.49 should not have been ratified in the first place. Her 10.61 time, recorded during the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials should be women's world record.

16. Flo-Jo’s 10.61 ‘WR’ was equaled by Thompson-Herah during Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and ‘broken’ this morning with 10.54 (+0.9).
All-Time lists for women's 100m (as of 22-8-2021)

17. Note that in Tokyo, the 100m race was into a headwind of -0.6 (i.e., -0.03 disadvantage). In Eugene Diamond League, a +0.9 wind favored the 100m race (i.e., +0.06 advantage). 

18. Possibilities: At 0.0 m/s wind, Thompson-Herah would have run 10.58 in Tokyo, and 10.60 in Eugene. At 2.0 m/s winds, Thompson-Herah would run 10.46 in Tokyo, and 10.48 in Eugene.   

19. With recent technologies (including running track), available training window (i.e., 2021-2024), competitiveness, world-record aim, etc. I think, we are going to witness a sub-10.49 time in women’s 100m race, legally.

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Malaysian female candidates in athletics for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

>> June 24, 2021

A female athlete maybe selected to represent Malaysia at the Olympics. In the previous two editions, Malaysia was represented by Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (2016) and Noraseela Mohd Khalid (2012). No Malaysian female athletes have qualified for this year's Olympics. Thus, the following may apply:

a. NOCs (country) with no male or female qualified athlete or relay team will be allowed to enter their best ranked male athlete or their best ranked female athlete in one athletic event, with the exception of the Combined Events, 10,000m and 3000m Steeplechase.

b. This applies equally to unqualified female entries from an NOC with qualified males, and vice versa

Using my specific's year database and compilation including info from my fellow ATFS colleague Heinrich Hubbeling (Asian Athletics Association), Tilastopaja.org, and World Athletics, here is a list of Malaysia's possible candidates for the 2020 Olympics. 
 
These information considers current performance of the athletes during the period of 2019 to present (i.e. season best). 

Husniah (100m), Kirthana (triple jump), Yap Sean Yee (high jump) and Grace (hammer)

Final decision by Malaysian Athletics Federation:  

......................................................................


Azreen Nabila Alias (100m)
  • Age: 21
  • 2021 SEA Top List: 6th (4th for SEA Games)
  • 2019 SEA Games: N/A
  • World Athletics Ranking:  1405th / 989 points
  • Season Best & Result Score:  11.92 (1007 points)
  • National Record Holder: No
  • Personal Best: 11.81s, Ipoh, 2018
  • All-Time Best Performances: 
          o Asian Youth – 6th (2017)
  • Progress at 100m: 2015- 12.17, 2016- 12.02, 2017- 12.26, 2018- 11.81, 2019- 11.92, 2021- 12.00.

Grace Wong Xiu Mei (Hammer Throw)
  • Age: 21
  • 2021 SEA Top List: 1st 
  • 2019 SEA Games: silver medal
  • World Athletics Ranking: 274th / 916 points 
  • Season Best (Result Score): 62.48m (972 points)
  • National Record Holder: YES (62.48m)
  • All-Time Best Performances: 
          o Asian Championships: 5th (2015) 
          o SEA Games – Gold (2017)
  • Progress at hammer throw: 2015- 53.80, 2016- 57.76, 2017- 60.99, 2018- 56.51, 2019- 55.82, 2020- 62.61 (trials), 2021- 62.48.

Kirthana Ramasamy (Triple Jump)
  • Age: 24
  • 2021 SEA Top List: 3rd 
  • 2019 SEA Games: 4th 
  • 2019 ASIAN Championships: 5th 
  • World Athletics Ranking: 135th / 1057 points 
  • Season Best (Result Score):  13.33m (1049 points) 
  • National Record Holder: No
  • All-Time Best Performances (Pre-2019): 
          o SEA Games – 4th (2017)
          o Asian Juniors – Gold medal (2016)
          o World Juniors – Qualifying round (2016) 
  • Progress at triple jump: 2015- 13.13, 2016- 13.31, 2017- 13.48, 2018- 12.95, 2019- 13.35*, 2020- 13.06, 2021- 13.21.


Siti Fatimah Mohamad (100m)
  • Age: 34
  • 2021 SEA Top List: 9th (6th for SEA Games)
  • 2019 SEA Games: N/A
  • World Athletics Ranking: 1138th / 1005 points 
  • Season Best & Result Score:  11.93 (1020 points)
  • National Record Holder: No
  • Personal Best: 11.77s, Kuala Lumpur, 2008
  • All-Time Best Performances: 
          o Asian Championships – 6th (2017) 
          o SEA Games – 5th (2017)
  • Progress at 100m: 2015- 12.09, 2016- 11.87, 2017- 11.80, 2018- 12.04, 2019- 11.91, 2021- 12.12.

Yap Sean Yee (High Jump)
  • Age: 26
  • 2021 SEA Top List: 1st 
  • 2019 SEA Games: Gold medal
  • World Athletics Ranking: 209th / 1029 points 
  • Season Best (Result Score):  1.81m (1023 points)
  • National Record Holder: YES (1.83m, 2017)
  • All-Time Best Performances: 
          o Asian Championships - 5th (2015)
          o Commonwealth Games 2014 – Qualifying round
          o SEA Games – bronze (2017)
  • Progress at high jump: 2014- 1.75m, 2015- 1.77m, 2016- 1.79m, 2017- 1.83m, 2018- 1.78m, 2019- 1.81m, 2020- 1.76m, 2021- 1.80m.


Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (100m)
  • Age: 27
  • 2021 SEA Top List: N/A
  • 2019 SEA Games: N/A
  • World Athletics Ranking:  806th / 1031 points 
  • Season Best (Result Score):  11.68s (1056 points)
  • National Record Holder: No
  • Personal Best: 11.59s, Weinheim, 2018
  • All-Time Best Performances: 
          o Rio Olympics – heats 
          o Asian Games 2018 – 8th 
          o Commonwealth Games 2018 – semi-final
          o World University Games – semi-final
          o SEA Games – silver (2017)
  • Progress at 100m: 2013- 11.87, 2014- 11.62, 2015- 11.69, 2016- 11.67, 2017- 11.61, 2018- 11.59, 2019- 11.65.
*insufficient into (e.g. wind reading)

The lists will be updated if necessary

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Lee Hup Wei won high jump Continental Tour in Kazakhstan

>> June 20, 2021

Lee Hup Wei grabbed high jump gold medal of the 2021 edition of Gusman Kosanov Memorial, aka World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze in Almaty, Kazakhstan (20 June).

The 34-year-old cleared a height of 2.10m, beating Uzbekistan's Timur Rakhmatullaev and Kazakhstan's Alexandr Timoshin in second and third, respectively. Both achieved the same height of 2.08m.

He collected around 1062 points including the winning point of 60, which is not quite sufficient to improve his current world rankings (20th place) at 1235 points.

Hup Wei's five best result scores he achieved within the Olympic qualifications (from 30 June 2019 until end of this month), earned him 1235 points on average for 26th position on the rankings for the Olympics. 

Lee Hup Wei won high jump gold in Kazakhstan open 2021

For the first time, World Athletics consider world rankings (i.e. point system) and direct qualifying standard (2.33m) to determine the high jump's 32 best athletes in the Olympics.

Thanks to Hup Wei's world championship points of 1337, achieved for his 8th placing (with 2.27m) in the finals, and 1270 for his 9th placing (with 2.29m) in the qualifying round.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Nyepa took silver medal in the men's 200m final (21.76). Ilham Suhaimi was in 3rd position for bronze, clocking 21.92. Kazakhstan's Vitaliy Zems took the victory in 21.19.

In the men's triple jump, Hakimi Ismail was in 4th placing after clearing 15.62m. Iran's Hamidreza Kia leaped 16.18m for gold, while Uzbekistan's Ivan Denisov grabbed the silver medal (16.10).

Elsewhere, Kazakhstan's Olympic champion Olga Rypakova registered 6.25m to win the women's long jump, while teammate Irina Ektova was second in 6.08m. Olga Safronova of Kazakhstan clocked 23.01 to win the women's 200m. In women's pole vault, Kazakhstan's Anastasiya Ermakova cleared 4.00m to win gold medal. Mostafa Elgamel of Egypt won the men's hammer in a good throw of 73.23m. Krygistan's Nursultan Keneshbekov clocked 14:48.47 to win the men's 5000m.

Read Day 1 news here.

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Choo Kang Ni bagged discus gold in Memorial Meeting, Kazakhstan

>> June 19, 2021

Connie Choo Kang Ni secured discus throw gold medal during the 1st day of the World Athletics World Continental Tour Bronze or "Gusman Kosanov Memorial" 2021 in Almaty, Kazakhstan (19 June).

Recently nursing her injury, the 27-year-old multiple SEA Games silver medalist threw a distance of 43.65m. Clearly, she is attempting to regain her regular form. Her personal best of 47.91m was set in 2017 SEA Games.

Second place was Yulianna Shukina of Uzbekistan in 38.90m, while Alina Vorontsova of Kazakhstan third in 36.78m.

Connie Choo won women's discus throw in Kazakhstan Open 2021

In the men's 100m, Jonathan Nyepa finished in second place for silver medal, clocking 10.64 (-1.4). He was leading to the 80m mark before being overtaken by Kazakhstan's Vitaliy Zems who took the gold in 10.57.

The women's century dash event was won by Kazakhstan's former Asian champion Olga Safronova in 11.60.

Iran's Sajjad Hashemiahangari clocked 45.85 to clinch the gold handily. Malaysia Muhammad Ilham Suhaimi was in 4th place in the men's 400m, setting 48.47.

Kazakhstan's David Yefremov won the men's 110m hurdles in 13.66, followed by his teammate Yevgeniy Prokudin in second place (13.84). Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian was in 3rd place, clocking 14.18. 

The winner of women's high jump was Nadezhda Dubovitskaya of Kazakhstan, clearing 1.96m. SEA Games champion Yap Sean Yee cleared a good height of 1.80m to place in 5th position.

Elsewhere, world class thrower Shahin Mehrdelan of Iran threw 20.27m in men's discuss for gold, with the second place winner of this event was at 12.53m only (Ravil Mansurbayeb of Kazakhstan). Ildar Akhmadiv of Tajikistan won the men's long jump in 7.46m. In men's discus throw, Yevgeniy Labutov of Kazakhstan took the gold in 51.46m. Sharifa Daronova of Uzbekistan took the victory in women's triple jump (13.01m).

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Extreme weather kills 21 elite runners in China ultramarathon

>> May 23, 2021

Twenty one elite runners were reportedly died in a 100-km ultra-marathon race in China. They were being hit by a sudden, and extreme weather.

The trail event, named officially as Jiangnan 100 Ultra Trail, was held for its 4th edition in Baiyin City (around Yellow River Stone Forest Park), Gansu province on Saturday (22 May 2021).


The athletes died from hypothermia or excessive exposure of cold temperature as a result of the freezing weather at high altitude, nearing 0°C. Initially, the runners had passed out from the cold temperature. 

Elite Chinese runner Jing Liang, 31, was among those who died. He won all three previous editions of the race.

Such tragedy was thought to be the "most brutal" to ever hit the ultrarunning event. 

Reported that, the race started at 1.00pm (mid-day). Based on a weather report, it was expected that some mild changes in weather pattern would occur. 

However, the weather changed out of nowhere and deteriorated, blasting with heavy freezing rain (with ice) and gale winds. It was virtually storms. 


The disaster occurred at altitudes of 2000m to 3000m above the sea level, approximately at distances between 21km to 30km.

A total of 171 runners took part in the trail race. They were expected to complete the race in 19 to 30+ hours, on average. They wore standard ultra-running t-shirts and shorts.

News and photos courtesy of: 163.com, scmp.com, statistik.d-u-v.org 

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Queenie Ting sets 48.56m to break discus throw national record

>> April 11, 2021

SEA Games bronze medalist Queenie Ting Kung Ni  threw a distance of 48.56m to set a new national record in women's discus throw today (11 April) during the 2021 Malaysian Grand Prix meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The 23-year-old eclipsed the previous national record of 47.91m set in the 2017 SEA Games by her  training partner, Connie Choo.

Both are currently under the guidance of coach Mohamad Ali Hamid.

The Physical Education student in UPM improved over 2-metres of her personal best of 46.51m she recorded en-route to win the 2019 national athletics championships.

Queenie Ting Kung Ni

She opened her competition in a dismal throw of 39.70m and improved the mark with 44.27m in the second throw. 

She fouled in her third throw, during which a former national record holder Yap Jeng Tzan (PB: 47.79m) took the lead in 44.82m - her best throw of the competition (3rd place).

As the competition progresses, Queenie fouled again, but improved on her mark to 45.45m in her 5th attempt, before setting the record in the 6th or last attempt.

Connie, who was the winner of previous GP meeting in 2019 (44.39m), and is nursing her injured leg, made a 45.53m throw in the 4th attempt, which surpassed Yap's for second placing.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Lee, a training partner of both Queenie and Connie, won the men's discus throw in 48.50m.

Elsewhere, Ngu Jia Xin won the women's high jump on a countback over Yap Sean Yee (PB 1.83m), both were registering 1.76m. Heptathlete Norliyana Kamaruddin was in 3rd place (1.72m).

Jonah Chang Rigan sets national U20 record in shot put

Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli threw 16.47m to win the men's shot put. Very near trailing the Paralympic champion was Jonah Chang Rigan, 18, who managed a final throw of 16.45m - a new national junior record for a 7.26kg implement.

Selected results (day 2).

MEN

400m
1. Muhammad Ilham Suhaimi 49.06
2. Luqmanul Hakim Khairul Akmal 49.26
3. Ruslem Zikry Putra Roseli 49.57
4. Cheah Yau Chung 50.09
5. Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari 50.76

Heat 1
1. Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari 50.01
2. Abdul Wafiy Roslan 50.14
3. Muhammad Aammar Aaman Nor Azmi 50.32

Heat 2
1. Muhammad Ilham Suhaimi 49.08
2. Ruslem Zikry Putra Roseli 49.18
3. Cheah Yau Chung 49.88
4. Muhammad Saiful Safwan Saifuddin 50.21

Heat 3
1. Luqmanul Hakim Khairul Akmal 49.21
2. Tharshan Shanmugam 50.02
3. Khairul Hafiz Jantan 50.03

110m hurdles (w?)
1. Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian 14.50
2. Benedict Ian Gawok 14.78
3. Muhammad Rizzua Haizad Muhammad 14.86
4. Wong Chun Yee 15.01
5. Mohd Fazillah Khamis 15.42

5000m
1. Ahmad Luth Hamizan 15:58.16
2. Dinesh Verma 16:02.98
3. Muhaizar Mohamad 16:04.26
4. Nik Fakaruddin Ismail 16:18.22
5. Daren James Naim 16:19.32
6. Zulkhairi Shahrim 16:20.55

Triple Jump
1. Muhammad Hakimi Ismail 14.52
2. Alvin Roland 14.35
3. Muhammad Hanif Che Hamid 14.03

Shot Put
1. Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli 16.47
2. Jonah Chang Rigan 16.45 / NJR (7.26kg)
3. Kong Chin Poh 15.61
4. Farm Loong Deng 15.60
5. Kamal Farhan A.Rahman 15.04

Discus Throw
1. Abdul Rahman Lee 48.50
2. Tan Jing Cheng 40.76
3. Muhammad Firyal Asyqil Mohd Zawawi 37.30

WOMEN

100m hurdles (w?)
1. Norliayana Kamaruddin 15.49
2. Juriani Mat Rodzi 15.66
3. Nur Shaqirah Cik Mat Kilau 15.66
4. Nur Syafiqah Anis Abu Bakar 16.31

High Jump
1. Ngu Jia Xin 1.76
2. Yap Sean Yee 1.76
3. Norliyana Kamaruddin 1.72
4. Nini Sharmiza Salim 1.60

Long Jump
1. Kirthana Ramasamy 6.00
2. Siti Zubaidah Adabi 5.84
3. Nurul Ashikin Abbas 5.70
4. Winnie Eng May Xin 5.40

Discus Throw
1. Queenie Ting Kung Ni 48.56 / NR
2. Connie Choo Kang Ni 45.53
3. Yap Jeng Tzan 44.82
4. Nur Atiqah Sufiah Md Hanizam 42.07

Day 1 story and results HERE

Complete results HERE

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ASIAN LEADERS (Men)

To be updated

STATISTICS

STATISTICS

ASIAN LEADERS (Women)

To be updated

Statistics


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