KAMPAR, June 14 — The national triathlon squad put on a stellar performance to capture the championship title in the Mixed Team Relay event at the World Triathlon Development Regional Cup & Asian Triathlon Youth Cup Kampar 2026, which took place today.

The formidable national combination comprising Sara Joy Hong Mae Chen, Qi Yi Yap, Esther Joy Hong Li Chen, and Martyn Wen Xuan Lim crossed the finish line with an overall time of 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 18 seconds.

This victory saw Malaysia stave off a fierce challenge from Russia, who had to settle for second place with a time of 1:21:05s, finishing 47 seconds behind the champions.

Meanwhile, the third spot on the podium went to Kyrgyzstan, who clocked 1:23:02s, while Macau placed fourth with a time of 1:23:28s.

The winning momentum for the national camp continued on the closing day of the Asia Triathlon Cup Kampar today through the U15 Super Sprint (13-15 years old) category.

National youth athlete Ashven Mannoh showcased a powerful cycling and running performance to contribute a bronze medal for Malaysia after finishing the race in third place with an overall time of 36 minutes and 50 seconds.

However, the category was dominated by two representatives from the Czech Republic, with Maxim Strangmuller clinching the championship title with a blistering time of 33:23s, followed by his compatriot Hugo Keilwerth, who took home the silver medal (35:29s).

The championship, held from June 11 to 14, marks its third edition hosted at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar. It is listed on the official calendar of the international governing body, World Triathlon, thereby solidifying the district’s position as one of the premier triathlon destinations in the region.

Prizes were presented by the State Tourism, Industry, Investment, and Corridor Development Committee Chairman, Loh Sze Yee, and the event was also attended by Malaysia Triathlon Association President, Tony Tan Beng Hong.

Meanwhile, Loh said that hosting the championship — which gathered around 500 athletes from 34 countries across various categories — proves Perak’s capability as an international sports tourism hub. The event was organized by the Perak State Triathlon Association and the Kampar District Council.

He added that the championship serves not only as a development platform for the sport of triathlon but also contributes to efforts in promoting Perak as a destination of choice for domestic and international tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026).

According to him, the participation of athletes from various countries, including those from Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Latin America, provides widespread exposure to the uniqueness of the state’s tourism products, particularly in Kampar, which is becoming increasingly known as a world-class venue for extreme sports and recreational events. — Bernama