Gie Chee Clinches Two Wins In Malacca International 12-hour Walk

By Y.P. SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my

IT WAS a memorable outing for Song Gie Chee in the Malacca International 12-hour walk at the A’ Famosa recently.

The 19-year-old Gie Chee, a pre-university student at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), was the winner in the women’s 50km event and the 12-hour walk. The petite Gie Chee completed the 50km mark in an impressive time of 6’19:07 followed by Hong Kong’s So Kit-Sum in 6’59:34 while another Malaysian Norazilah Osman was third in 7’07:13.

Encouraged by her coach Jagjit Singh, Gie Chee continued through the paces and completed 84 laps in 12 hours. Kit-Sum settled for the second spot with 82 laps while Hong Kong’s Lau Fung-Ling was third on 79 laps.

Walking tall: Gie Chee bagged a double in the Malacca International 12-hour walk.

For Gie Chee, who hails from Penang, the double was a reward for her commitment. Her initial target was to complete the 50km event.

“It was a tough race and I was taking part in the competition for the first time. I was more keen to gauge my progress in the 50km. But my coach, who was monitoring my progress from the start, felt I would be able to maintain the momentum and encouraged me to continue.

“It was quite tiring and I kept on going. Being in the leading pack also helped,’’ said Gie Chee.

Jagjit was happy with Gie Chee’s remarkable outing in the Malacca International 12-hour walk.

In the men’s 50km, Negri Sembilan’s B. Anipoobarathi was the winner on 6’00:04 while another Malaysian Eng Hup Boh was second (6’01:01) and Singapore’s Edmund Sim third (6:02:44).

However, Hup Boh was in good form and completed 94 laps in 12 hours. Two other Malaysians — Malek Redone Herberto and Wan Arif Wan Husain — were second and third respectively, covering 90 laps.

Anipoobarathi’s coach R. Mogan said he was satisfied with his protege’s time in the 50km.

“He was taking part in the 50km event for the first time. The focus was on the senior walkers but this boy did exceptionally well to win the gold medal,’’ said Mogan.

The 12-hour walk was organised by the Race Walkers Association of Malaysia (RWAM) while the sponsors were Yeo’s H2O Isotonic Water, Delfi Marketing (Eagle Balm and Salonpas), Southern Lion (Shokubutsu, Sport Fresh) and Samsung Malaysia.

Results
Men 50km:
1. B Anipoobarathi 6’00:04;
2. Eng Hup Boh 6’01:01;
3. Edmund Sim 6’02:44

12 hours:
1. Eng Hup Boh (94 laps);
2. Malek Redone Herberto (90 laps);
3. Wan Arif Wan Husain (90 laps)

Women 50km:
1. Song Gie Chee 6’19:07;
2. So Kit-Sum 6’59:34;
3. Norazilah Osman 7”07:13.

12 hours:
1. Song Gie Chee (84 laps);
2. So Kit-Sum (82 laps);
3. Lau Fung-Ling (79 laps)