Irene sheds tears of joy
MALAYSIAN athlete, Irene Chong See Win, cried tears of joy right after crossing the finish line as she won the bronze medal in the women’s triathlon event of the 2017 Sea Games in 2:25:44s at the Water Sports Complex here yesterday.
Irene then expressed gratitude to teammate Zoe
Natasha Bowden for the moral support and words of encouragement which helped her finish third in the race as she was actually exhausted and almost gave up during the cycling leg of the event.
“I would not have won the bronze if not for Natasha spurring me on. We did the best we could to win a medal which we have done, so I feel no regret even though I got the bronze.
“After this, I will be taking leave for 10 days before continuing with my studies at University Malaya (UM) and training hard to qualify for both the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year,” she said when met by the media yesterday.
The Philippines athletes proved to be the best in Southeast Asia when they took gold and silver in both the men’s and women’s triathlon events.
In women’s triathlon, Marion Kim Mangrobang won gold in 2:11:14s, followed by compatriot Marie Claire Adorna who clocked 2:18:58s.
Another Philippine athlete, Huelgas Nikko Bryan, successfully defended the gold medal he won in Singapore two years ago when he came in first with a time of 1:59:30s; followed by countryman John Chinano (2:01:27s), and Singaporean Clement Chow Sheng Ren (2:03:24s) who took Bronze.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s gold prospect, Rikigoro Shinozuka said he felt sad because he failed to win any medal following the excellent form showed by the other participants, notably the two Philippine athletes who took gold and silver in the men’s event.
“I tried my best but this time round the competition was so much tougher compared to two years ago in Singapore, and lady luck was just not on my side today,” he said.
Shinozuka finished in eighth place while fellow Malaysian Ryan Tan Qai Shen came in 16th place. Haika Khazi