MIDDLE distance runner K. Prabudass is pleased with his form ahead of next month's Hanoi Sea Games.
The 32-year-old was in his element as he won the 1,500m event at last weekend's Singapore Open Athletics Championships. He clocked 3:54.23s to better his personal best of 3:55.59 for the gold, finishing ahead of Alfrence Braza of the Philippines (3:59.19) and Singapore's S. Jeevaneesh (4:00.99) at the Kallang Sports Centre.
Prabudass' timing places him as one of the favourites to win a Sea Games gold medal in this event.
At the 2019 Manila Sea Games, Vietnam's Duong Van Thai won the 1,500m in 4:06.63, followed by Masano Mariano of the Philippines (4:08.27) and Thailand's Yothin Yaprajan (4:08.90).
"It was a pleasant surprise to record a new PB. It is quite a remarkable feat to clock below four minutes, despite not competing regularly over the past two years," said Prabudass.
"My winning time looks overwhelming compared to the gold-medal-winning time at the Manila edition. However, it should not be used as an indicator as anything can happen in a race.
"I am definitely more confident heading to Hanoi. I will use the next few weeks to overcome my weaknesses."
The national track and field team had a fruitful outing in Singapore, winning eight gold, two silver and two bronze.
RESULTS (SELECTED) — MEN, 100m: 1 Jonathan Nyepa (Mas) 10.66, 2 Marc Brian Louis (Sin) 10.67, 3 Haiqal Hanafi (Mas) 10.75.
200m: 1 Azeem Mohd Fahmi (Mas) 21.52, 2 Reuben Rainer Lee (Sin) 21.59, 3 Jonathan Bull (Sin) 23.13.
800m: 1 M. Avinesh Austin (Mas) 1:55.14, 2 Edwin Giron (Phi) 1:55.27, 3 Haja Fayiz (Sin) 1:59.29.
4X100m: 1 Malaysia 39.66, 2 Indonesia 40.09, 3 Singapore 40.09.
1,500m: 1 K. Prabudass (Mas) 3:54.23, 2 Alfrence Braza (Phi) 3:59.19, 3 Jeevaneesh Soundararajah (Sin) 4:00.99.
Long jump: 1 Andre Anura Anuar (Mas) 7.60m, 2 Janry Ubas (Phi) 7.52m, 3 Tedd Toh (Sin) 6.93m
Discus: 1 Irfan Shamsuddin (Mas) 59.15m, 2 John Albert Mantua (Phi) 49.57m, 3 Eric Yee (Sin) 47.67m.
Shot put: 1 John Albert Mantua (Phi) 17.33m, 2 William Edward Morrison (Phi) 16.61m, 3 Ziyad Zolkefli (Mas) 16.54m.
WOMEN, Discus: 1 Queenie Ting (Mas) 46.27m, 2 Choo Kang Ni (Mas) 44.11m, 3 Melissa Yee (Sin) 33.82m.
Heptathlon: 1 Sarah Dequinan from (Phi) 5,008 pts, 2 Norliyana Kamaruddin 4,875, 3 Josefa Ligmayo (Phi) 4,486.