{
  "id": 11111400,
  "title": "Relay quartet seek Podium Programme inclusion without Bukit Jalil move",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/relay-quartet-seek-podium-programme-inclusion-without-bukit-jalil-move",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T04:45:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/10/1545294/relay-quartet-seek-podium-programme-inclusion-without-bukit-jalil"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: The national women’s 4x100m relay runners have urged the authorities to consider including them in the full-time Podium Programme without requiring them to relocate to Bukit Jalil.",
  "key_points": [
    "Debut at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games saw fifth-place finish in first heat with 45.24-second time.",
    "Team based in various locations, requests flexible training system to avoid Bukit Jalil move."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}