Shahrom, Shio Yuan eye personal best marks at Ironman Desaru
KUALA LUMPUR: National triathletes Shahrom Abdullah and Chia Shio Yuan are aiming to smash their personal best marks at the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast in Bandar Penawar, Johor, on Sunday.
Shahrom, 46, will compete in the men's 45-49 age group in the race, which features a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km run.
He's targeting a sub-4 hour 25 minute finish but says even clocking 4:30s would be a decent result.
"This will be my fourth Ironman here, and I'm hoping to beat my personal best," said Shahrom, who was the best overall Malaysian finisher in last year's edition, clocking 4:54:49.
"It's different now, age has caught up, and I'm not as aggressive as I was in my younger days.
"I've retired as a professional athlete and now train part-time, but I still take this seriously.
"I've really missed racing against seasoned competitors like Razani Husain, who sadly had to retire due to health issues.
"Before coming to Desaru, I raced in Kuching, Sarawak, and was thrilled to be crowned overall champion.
"That result has given me a big confidence boost going into this weekend, though I know the international field will be tough."
Shio Yuan, who will race in the women's 35-39 age group, is using Desaru as a build-up for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October - regarded as the sport's pinnacle event.
"This will be my third outing at Ironman Desaru, and I feel more prepared than ever for the brutal course," she said.
"I recently took part in triathlons in Putrajaya and Port Dickson, winning the former and finishing second in the latter.
"But Desaru will be a whole different challenge, especially with its notoriously punishing terrain."
Top triathletes featuring this year, include Australia's Assad Attamimi, Singapore's Choo Ling Er and Malaysia's Ann Pow.
Attamimi finished runner-up in the men's overall event last year, while Ling Er claimed the women's crown.
Ann Pow was the top Malaysian female finisher last year.
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