Relay quartet seek Podium Programme inclusion without Bukit Jalil move

In Nagoya, the national women's 4x100m relay team has urged authorities to consider including them in the full-time Podium Programme without mandating a move to Bukit Jalil. This request stems from the quartet's debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where they secured fifth place in the first heat with a time of 45.24 seconds. Although this performance wasn't enough for the final, the runners viewed it positively given their limited two-week training period before the Games.

Izzatul, a sprint queen at the recent Selangor Sukma, explained that the team isn't part of the full-time Podium Programme due to the centralised training requirement in Bukit Jalil that clashes with their academic and training commitments. They are based in various locations - Izzatul in Kuala Terengganu, Wardatul and Fatin Ilyana in Tanjung Malim, and Nur Aishah in Sabah.

The team hopes for a more flexible system, asserting that if they can train in their respective states and still achieve results, relocation to Bukit Jalil isn't necessary. As seasoned athletes, they believe that a brief three to four days of intensive baton-exchange training would suffice. Wardatul also mentioned that the quartet initially aimed for a sub-45-second clocking to break the national record, but was content with their 45.24s effort in their first outing together.

The runners viewed their first major games experience as a positive sign, emphasizing that with better planning and support, they have room to grow, particularly ahead of the 2027 SEA Games, where Malaysia will be the host.