Kenyans dominate jungle race
Winners and participants at the close of the 2025 Kemuyang Nature Challenge.
TWO Kenyan athletes claimed top honours at the 2025 Kemuyang Nature Challenge in Sibu, Sarawak where 300 runners participated.
Samson Kamal, 29, dominated the 9km Men's Open category, finishing in 47:40.
His compatriot Kabui Teresial, 22, won the 9km Women's Open category, completing the race in 51:50.
They each received RM2,000 in prize money for their achievements.
A delighted Samson shared that the prize money was timely.
'We'll be using it to purchase our flight tickets home from Kuala Lumpur.
'A one-way ticket costs around RM2,000 each,' said Samson, who recently graduated with a degree in Business Economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Kabui, who pursued the same course, also graduated from UKM.
(Below) Kabui (left) and Samson showing their prizes in Sibu.
Reflecting on the race, Kabui described it as 'tough', adding she had to give her all.
Samson said he enjoyed the event and praised the trail.
'This is our first time winning a jungle trekking event in Malaysia.
'We learnt about the competition from a Malaysian friend in Sandakan,' he said.
Samson added that both he and Kabui are marathon runners and will undergo intensive training at home before entering their next race.
Meanwhile, local runners Lim Siet Fah and Teo Lian Geok expressed disappointment over their performance, citing changes in the format.
'In the previous competition in December 2023, it was primarily jungle trekking.
'This time, it was 50% road running and 50% jungle trekking.
'My strength lies in jungle trekking, so it put me at a disadvantage,' said Lim, a vocational school teacher from Kuching.
Teo echoed Lim's sentiments.
Lim, the 2023 Women's Open category champion, finished third this time.
Teo secured second place in the 7km Women's Veteran category.
In the Men's Open category, second place went to Belfon Mosolan (RM1,500) and third to Saidi Suni (RM1,000).
For the Women's Open, second place was claimed by Luk Teck Bing (RM1,500) with Lim Siet Fah in third (RM1,000).
Winners of the 7km Men's Veteran category were Hardy Suntol (RM1,000), Chu Chat Shan (RM700) and Lee Kok Eng (RM500), while in the 7km Women's Veteran category, the top three were Lim Set Hiang (RM1,000), Teo Lian Geok (RM700) and Lee Leh Ha (RM500).
Sarawal Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Ministry representative Zulkanain Ismail presented the prizes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
UPDATED: Malaysian badminton makes history with men's pairs dominating world's top 2 rankings
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei–Nur Izzuddin Rumsani held their nerve to keep their place at the summit of the world rankings, and in doing so, ensured they remain the leading pair in what is now a historic Malaysian one-two in men's doubles. The world No. 1 duo survived a scare at the Indonesia Open on Thursday, rallying to beat world No. 28 compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub–Tan Wee Kiong 21-14, 16-21, 21-14 in a tense second-round clash at the Istora Senayan. It was not a match to be taken lightly. The two pairs had met three times previously, with Sze Fei–Izzuddin holding a narrow 2-1 edge, a reminder that their fellow independent and training mates are no pushovers. Had they lost, Sze Fei–Izzuddin would have been overtaken by fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, who are projected to move up to No. 2 despite a first-round exit, thanks to the rolling points system and key upsets in the draw. But by advancing to the quarter-finals, Sze Fei–Izzuddin retained enough points to hold onto top spot with the current projected total of 91,090, narrowly ahead of Aaron–Wooi Yik's 89,870. Sze Fei–Izzuddin could now look to extend their lead depending on how far they go in Jakarta. It's still a landmark moment for Malaysian badminton, with two pairs set to be officially ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world when the new rankings are updated next Tuesday, a feat never before achieved in the country's storied history in men's doubles. The last time Malaysia had two pairs in the top three came in 2006, when Koo Kien Keat–Chan Chong Ming were ranked No. 2 and Choong Tan Fook–Lee Wan Wah sat at No. 3. But never have two Malaysian pairs simultaneously occupied the top two spots, until now. Aaron–Wooi Yik, the 2022 world champions, gained ground after Denmark's Kim Astrup–Anders Skaarup Rasmussen were ousted in the second round by Japan's Takuro Hoki–Yugo Kobayashi. The Danes lost 29-27, 21-11 in a match they needed to win to defend their semi-final points from last year, and are expected to fall to 87,520 and drop to third in the rankings. It was a pressure-filled outing for Sze Fei–Izzuddin, who had quarter-final points to defend from last year and needed the win to avoid being dethroned just two weeks after becoming Malaysia's first new men's pair to reach No. 1 since Goh V Shem–Tan Wee Kiong in 2016. Next up, Sze Fei–Izzuddin will face Indonesia's world No. 8 pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama–Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the quarter-finals. The two pairs have met only twice previously, with their last encounter, at the China Masters in November last year, going down to the wire before the Indonesians edged a thrilling 18-21, 21-18, 23-21 win.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Mohd Na'im: Malaysians planning to perform haj must have valid permit, visa
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians planning to perform the haj must possess a valid permit or visa. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said attempting to perform the haj without a valid visa is not only a breach of Saudi Arabian law but also poses significant risks to the pilgrims themselves. "This includes facing hefty fines, deportation, and being blacklisted from entering Saudi Arabia for an extended period," he said. "Such actions also risk jeopardising the longstanding cordial relations between the Malaysian and Saudi governments, and could lead to the revocation of privileges previously granted to Malaysian pilgrims," he said. He was commenting on the case of 80 Malaysian pilgrims who were detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) recently for attempting to travel using tourist visas. Na'im said Lembaga Tabung Haji consistently reminds prospective pilgrims not to be lured by packages offering unrealistic prices or marketed by unauthorised haj operators. "While mujamalah or furada visas are considered valid, they are exclusive privileges of the Saudi government and fall outside the official haj quota," he said. He added that under the Tabung Haji Act 1995 (Act 535), it is an offence for any travel agency or individual not licensed as a haj operator by Tabung Haji to advertise haj packages. As such, he urged the public to report any unauthorised haj promotions found on social media or websites to Tabung Haji, to help curb the activities of unlicensed operators.
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Sze Fei-Izzuddin Lead Five Malaysian Pairs Into Indonesia Open Quarter-Finals
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- National professional men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani led the charge of five Malaysian pairs into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Indonesia Open badminton tournament at Istora Senayan, Jakarta today. In the second round of the Super 1000-level tournament, the world number one pair faced a tough challenge from compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong before sealing a 21-14, 16-21, 21-14 victory in 54 minutes. The India Open champions in January will next face Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. bootstrap slideshow Joining Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin are Malaysia Masters champions in May, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who defeated compatriots Junaidi Arif-Yap Roy King 14-21, 21-11, 21-15. The world number seven pair will go up against India's Satwisairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. In the mixed doubles, second seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei lived up to expectations by reaching the quarter-finals after ousting Denmark's Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch 21-9, 21-12 in just 31 minutes. They will next meet another Danish pair, Jesper Toft-Amalie Magelund. Also making it into the last eight are Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, who defeated Indonesia's Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah 21-12, 21-17 to set up a clash with Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran. Meanwhile, national top women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah secured their spot in the quarter-finals after staging a comeback to beat Indonesia's Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 18-21, 21-16, 21-17. The world number four pair will face Japan's Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi, who overcame Malaysia's Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting 21-15, 21-16 in the second round.
