KUALA LUMPUR – Despite smashing two national records in as many months, distance runner Kristian Tung has been told he must deliver at the Bangkok SEA Games in December before being considered for a place in the elite Podium Programme.
Rather than feeling disheartened, the 21-year-old has embraced the challenge and is eager to prove himself to selectors at the regional stage.
“To be part of the national Podium Programme, I was told by someone from the NSC that I would need to prove myself at the SEA Games. I am ready to do that,” Kristian told Scoop.
The Federal Territories runner, who is pursuing his studies at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, said training has been going well. He plans to return to Malaysia at the end of November to join the national squad’s centralised camp before leaving for Bangkok.
Kristian has been one of the most exciting prospects in Malaysian athletics this year, breaking S. Muthiah’s 40-year-old 3,000m record in August before lowering the national 10km road race mark in Rotterdam last month.
National athletics head coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil confirmed Kristian remains central to Malaysia’s SEA Games plans.
“Kristian is among the three foreign-based athletes we have. From the three, only Kristian and Shereen (Samson Vallabouy) will compete in Bangkok, as Muhammad Azeem Fahmi has confirmed he will not compete,” said Manshahar.
“Since I joined the national setup in July, we have held several centralised training camps, but the foreign-based athletes are left to their respective programmes as we do not want to distract them from whatever good they have achieved.
“Even for the SEA Games, if they can join our centralised training programme, great. If they can’t, it’s totally fine. Athletes like Kristian are already doing very well abroad with their coaches.”
Manshahar added that preparations are on track, with the relay team already checked in for their training camp ahead of the Pahang Open next week. Two more domestic competitions will be held before the final SEA Games camp.
He also noted that issues regarding the lack of coaches have been resolved, and the final confirmed list of athletes bound for Bangkok will be announced soon.
For Kristian, however, the mission is clear – to carry his record-breaking form into the SEA Games and prove he deserves full backing as a Podium Programme athlete. — October 2, 2025