DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Environment & Climate

Malaysia Puts Several Sporting Events on Hold as Haze Worsens

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Haze in Malaysia led organizers to cancel the PJ Half Marathon and postpone four Para Sukma events after the air pollutant index reached 169 in Selangor.
  • The Merdeka Spirit Run in Kuching moved from Sept. 6 to Oct. 4, while some other races continued as scheduled.
  • Runners have shifted to indoor training and reduced outdoor sessions because of breathing difficulties and health concerns.

Haze has forced Malaysia’s sports organizers to cancel or postpone several events, while runners prepare for upcoming races in more difficult conditions. The PJ Half Marathon, scheduled for Sept. 6, was cancelled after the air pollutant index reached 169 at noon.

It can be stuffy and hard to breathe properly while training outdoors, so we make do with what we can indoors.

· Rafiqha MustaffaThe runner described why she switched to indoor strength training and treadmill workouts.

Four Para Sukma events in Selangor, athletics, swimming, archery and lawn bowls, were postponed. In Kuching, organizers moved the Merdeka Spirit Run from Sept. 6 to Oct. 4 to protect participants’ health and safety. Race-pack collection continued as planned.

Some events still went ahead, including the Larian Anak Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and the Larian Sawah Padi Tanjong Karang. The PJ Half Marathon’s late cancellation also raised questions for participants because its terms generally make entry fees non-refundable when unavoidable circumstances force a cancellation.

I’ve tried running on the treadmill, but it’s just not the same compared to being outdoors as we get to really simulate race day conditions.

· Evan Wong Hon KittWong explained the limits of indoor training while preparing for a 30km race.

The haze has changed how athletes train. Rafiqha Mustaffa, 34, said she now relies on indoor strength training and a treadmill because outdoor sessions can feel stuffy and make breathing difficult. Evan Wong Hon Kitt, 37, has cut his outdoor runs from four times a week to twice while preparing for a 30km race. He said treadmill running does not replicate outdoor race conditions.

Longer runs are done on the treadmill, which is not my personal favourite. Either way, training must go on.

· Tham Jo YeeTham described how haze had changed her preparation for a marathon.

Other runners have also reduced the intensity or length of outdoor sessions. Tham Jo Yee, 30, said she completes longer runs on a treadmill while preparing for the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon. Steven Wang, 29, from Penang, said the haze had affected his preparations for the Hyrox Singapore race and forced him to adapt his training. He said outdoor running can feel suffocating, even though it helps athletes control their pace.

Usually, I try to get at least two outdoor running sessions weekly, but the haze can be suffocating, so we are forced to adapt.

· Steven WangWang discussed the effect of haze on his Hyrox Singapore training.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog