World silver medallist Suresh returns to training at Merdeka Run
KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh from winning a silver medal for Malaysia at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, race walker J. Suresh Kumar returned to the road today, taking part in the 5.5km OXYENERGY x Media Prima Merdeka Run 2026.
KUALA LUMPUR: Race walker J. Suresh Kumar, a recent world silver medallist, returned to training as part of the 5.5km OXYENERGY x Media Prima Merdeka Run 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. The 54-year-old participated among nearly 1,500 others, describing the event as a valuable addition to his preparation for future competitions. Suresh admitted the route was challenging due to two hills along the way, but he found it beneficial as his house is near the course, making him familiar with the terrain.
Looking ahead, Suresh has several competitions on his schedule, starting with the 10km veteran race walk in Penang on October 18. He will also compete in the Singapore Masters Athletics Championships on November 28 and 29, where he will participate in the 3,000m walk, 3,000m and walk relays. Suresh's 2027 calendar includes the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, followed by the 2027 Asia Masters Athletics Championships and Malaysian Masters Athletics Championships.
His motivation to stay fit is simple: "I want to make my country proud." Among the participants, 15-year-old Adam Naufal from SMK Menjalara emerged as the winner in the 5.5km category, finishing in 20 minutes.
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