Rising national triathlete Cindy Sui produced an encouraging performance ahead of her SEA Games debut in Thailand next week, claiming the women’s sprint title at the Aquathlon Kuala Langat 2025 at Lover’s Bridge, Tanjung Sepat today.

Cindy, 27, clocked 34:33 to finish the contest which combined 750m swim and 5km ahead of Chan May Yan (37:37) and Shannon Liaw (40:49). The former Sarawak state swimmer, who only began racing triathlon three years ago, said the event was useful for rehearsal and execution.

“This race gave me a really good feel of how I want to execute my performance at the SEA Games, especially because aquathlon will be the first event for me there. Today wasn’t an ‘A race’ for me, but it was still an important chance to assess how my body responds and where I need to tidy things up,” said Cindy.

She admitted that switching sports was a major turning point in her career.

“I’ve been a competitive swimmer since I was young, but in Malaysia the highest level I reached was SUKMA. I couldn’t break into the national team, so I thought that dream of representing the country was already gone,” said Cindy.

“When I came into triathlon, everything changed. I never imagined endurance sport for myself, but here I am finally able to wear national colours on a big stage. It feels like one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Armed Forces personnel corporal Khairil Azhar Abdul Wahid delivered the standout result in the men’s Olympic distance (1.5km swim-10km run), storming to victory in 1:05:23 ahead of Jeremy Tan (1:06:16) and Indra Abunawas (1:07:43).

“I’m really happy to finally win after finishing second (behind national athlete Yap Qi Yi) last year. He’s not racing this time because he’s preparing for the SEA Games, so I tried to make the most of the opportunity and improve on my performance,” said Khairil, whose today’s podium was his 10th of the year.

“My run felt good and I managed to hold my pace even though the swim was a little slow. Overall I’m satisfied because the route was well organised and the marshals did a great job, so everything felt safe and smooth. Credit also to the organisers and my team for all their support.

“I’ve always enjoyed this event — it’s my third year here and I’ve never missed it.”

This year marked the third edition of Aquathlon Kuala Langat, staged against the scenic backdrop of the Straits of Malacca along the 300-metre Lover’s Bridge in Tanjung Sepat.

The event drew approximately 550 participants representing 18 countries, with athletes travelling from as far as Uruguay, Greece and Canada across multiple age-group and open categories.

Organised by Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Langat, together with XS Elite Performance and AMMJB, the event featured five categories: Olympic Distance, Sprint, Under-15 (13-15), Aqua Kids (10–12) and Aqua Mini (7–9), with strong participation from junior and first-time competitors.

Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Langat, YBrs. Tuan Mohd Hasry Nor Mohd, said the event continues to highlight Kuala Langat’s coastal assets and growing multisport community.

“Lover’s Bridge has long been a landmark for our district, and we are pleased to see it evolving as a sporting venue that encourages active lifestyles and brings more people to discover Tanjung Sepat,” he said.

Participants tackled coastal open-water swimming followed by a fast, largely flat run course along the waterfront — a layout designed to showcase the area’s natural beauty while offering competitive racing conditions.