KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — As the country has been waiting about two-decades to see a new long distance star, Muhammad Ikbolasen Md Kamal Hussain, has high hopes of ending the painful wait.
The 20-year-old who hails from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, has strong determination to achieve big in the strenuous long-distance events.
Muhammad Ikbolasen recently came under the limelight after winning the Asics Meta Time Trials run in Bangkok, edging his idol and another Pahang runner S. Poo Vasanthan, but his efforts and hard work to rise is a long story.
Muhammad Ikbolasen’s passion and love for the sport since young, has made him willing to run on a hilly terrain for almost 8km from his house in Batu 33, Ringlet to the Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH) public field in Tanah Rata at least three times a week from the age of 12 till 15.
After reaching his training ground, he would be having arduous training with other trainees under the guidance of school teacher C. Yogesh for about 90 minutes, before taking another 8km stride back home.
Coming from a needy family, he will also walk to school and for training at the SMK Ringlet ground, which is about 4km from his home, until he received an offer from Pahang Sports School in Gambang to continue his Form Four studies at the age of 16.
“Usually I train about five to six days a week, either at Tanah Rata or Ringlet. Usually I run to my training ground, only sometimes will I take the bus as I don’t like to wait long for the bus.
“My aim is to emerge as the top long distance runner in the country one day. My idol is Poo Vasanthan, who I have admired for a long time and now is my training partner and really a brother for me,” he told Bernama.
Admiring Poo Vasanthan so much, Muhammad Ikbolasen decided to train together with the former’s father-cum-coach P. Subramaniam for the past 18-months, staying together with the coach’s family in Raub, putting aside race and religious differences.
Muhammad Ikbolasen is set to make his Malaysia Games (Sukma) debut on Thursday in the 10,000 metres (m) event, followed by the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m races on Friday and Saturday.
“I am targeting to win the 10,000m event by breaking the Games record; gold in 5,000m and a podium finish in the steeplechase. But I am aware of the challenges, especially from M. Sanjay of Johor and S. Dinesh Varma of Selangor.
“The Thai meet was my first international event, I managed to improve my techniques and timing there, so hoping to continue the momentum in Sukma. Poo Vasanthan and coach are really like a family for me,” he added.
The current 26-year-old record of 31 minutes and 47.95 seconds for the 10,000m was set by A. Munusamy in the 1996 Pahang edition.
Muhammad Ikbolasen’s personal best for the 10,000m event is 32:38s, while for the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase events, he had clocked 15:32s and 9:48s respectively.
Meanwhile, Subramaniam, who is also the Pahang Sukma long distance coach, is confident that Muhammad Ikbolasen will triumph in the 10,000m event, based on his dedication and talent.
“I am 80 per cent sure he can win the 10,000m gold from the training and time he did previously, while he is among the favourites for the 5,000m. Hopes are high for him to break the long standing record,” he added.
The Sukma athletics events are scheduled from Sept 15-18 (Friday to Sunday) at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, with a total of 44 gold medals at stake.
