For Immediate Release
Sports lifestyle News release – Trail Running
Sabah resident Simpat storms Malaysia Action Asia 50 while Hong Kong’s Chen takes Women’s 50km grueling ultra
Janda Baik, Pahang, Malaysia, - August 4, 2024 – Rated by some of Malaysia's top elite runners as the most difficult punishing mountain running course in West Malaysia, the much-anticipated Malaysia Action Asia 50 kicked off Sunday (August 4) at the Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa Resort in Janda Baik, Pahang state.
In the peaceful and tranquil little village of Janda Baik, there is a 50km technical trail ultra running course close to 3000m elevation gain (GPX track around 55km), a 27km course with over 1300m elevation gain and a 11km course with over 390m elevation gain. Runners were flagged off with 2 starts with 50km participants starting at 5am in darkness, 27km and 11km distances at 7am.
"The course was very tough with plenty of hills, but I tried to run as much of it as possible. After climbing Kinabalu 2x last week and racing the previous weekend, my legs were a little sore, but enjoyed the course. Very happy Action Asia is back in Malaysia as a very well-marked course,” said overall Men’s 50km winner local Sabah elite runner Daved Simpat (ZEAK Nutrition) finishing in 6 hours 11 minutes 3 seconds, who also won the 2017 Malaysia Action Asia 50 Janda Baik ultra and now in 2024 wins the grand prize of a trip to Hong Kong for the famous Action Asia Lantau 50 in December.
From Kaula Lumpur Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin (HOKA Malaysia) came home 2nd overall in the Men’s 50km who also has a long history with Action Asia with the most recent being overall winner at the 2019 Malaysia Action Asia 50.
“Oh, that was tough as lots of hills added on the new extension. Marking was good and the marshals were helpful. Wasn’t easy in the dark in the first few kilometers as maybe a few more fluorescent ribbons could be added to the orange ribbons, but I made it thru and so happy with 2nd” said Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin finishing in 7:26:02 who has the most past wins on this Malaysia Action Asia course winning almost all the past editions.
Hong Kong resident Mark Iandoli (United States) came home 3rd in 7:38:11 with a big smile on his face. “That wasn’t easy as happy to finish that. Nice route and great marking. Loved the valleys. Great job Action Asia and all the staff as very well organized,” said Iandoli.
Chen Yaoqiang (United States), resident of Hong Kong took the overall Women’s 50km in 8 hours 56 minutes. “Super well marked, lots of runnable paths, but also some really challenging jungle sections” said Chen the overall Womens 50 km winner making the trip to Malaysia all that much more memorable.
Lee Yee Shi from Malaysia putting in a great performance taking 2nd overall in the Women’s 50km finishing in 10 hours 5 minutes 5 seconds. “Just keep going. Don’t stop. That was my strategy I recommend to everyone”, said Lee who wins an all-paid trip to Hong Kong with 2 hotel nights to enter the Lantau 50 on December 1 to represent Malaysia.
Bahri Qa of Malaysia grabbed 3rd overall in the Women’s 50 km finishing in 12 hours 12minutes 53 seconds. “Just finish what you start. The hardest part was that the hills never ended. Rolling hills. Will recommend my friends to come next time. See you all at Action Asia next year,” said Bahri Qa holding her trophy proudly with such a great accomplishment.
Many participants shared similar sentiments saying the course was 'non-stop hills' but the course marking was very clear. Although participants thought that is the toughest race in Malaysia, many said they definitely recommend bringing their friends to the next Action Asia Events edition to stand the pain together. The other common feedback was going deep into the rainforest with sounds of birds whistling on the trees, crickets and other insects and monkeys swinging from the trees as refreshing from all the noise in big cities where many of the international runners from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada were from.
The Malaysia Action Asia 50 could not have happened without the kind support of N8, Tourism Malaysia, Forestry of Malaysia, Pahang state police department, Janda Baik community police department, Royale International, Action X store, Janda Baik local staff and marshals that worked so hard.
Race Results
50 km Men overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (111) Simpat Daved - Malaysia - ZEAK NUTRITION - 06:11:03
2 (113) Bin Nudin Mohamad Affindi - Malaysia - Hoka Malaysia - 07:26:02
3 (115) Iandoli Mark - United States - 07:38:11
4 (125) Woo Mun Quen Nelson - Malaysia- 08:20:16
5 (114) Mazana Vincent - France- 08:50:00
50 km Women overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (116) Chen Yaoqiang - United States- 08:56:00
2 (119) Yee Shi Lee - Malaysia- 10:05:05
3 (132) Bahri Qa - Malaysia- 12:12:53
27 km Men overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (319) Kawachi Hiroyuki - Japan- 02:56:30
2 (327) Yam Yem Yun - Malaysia - U Run - 03:21:32
3 (329) Tan Benedict - Malaysia- 03:22:34
4 (326) Wong Chee Wai - Malaysia - U Run - 03:31:30
5 (349) Rosalie Giovanny - France- 03:44:17
27 km Women overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (314) Choo Ling Er - Singapore - Smile Asia - 03:20:40
2 (381) Dmitruk Antonina - Russia- 03:53:11
3 (317) Lee Mei Yin - Singapore - SMILE ASIA - 04:11:56
4 (322) Tong Vivian - Malaysia- 04:20:00
5 (335) Lee Lee Tan - Malaysia- 04:26:07
11 km Men overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (812) Pook Keong Saw - Malaysia - 01:21:53
2 (849) Ng Kien Yew - Malaysia - 01:24:46
3 (899) Gupta Shubham - India - 01:30:41
4 (836) Lee Kok Wai - Malaysia - 01:31:57
5 (835) Wong Kok Mun - Malaysia - U Run - 01:33:05
11 km Women overall top 5:
Overall - BIB - Last Name - First Name – Nationality – Sponsor/Team - Race Time
1 (838) Abu Bakar Seira Sacha - Malaysia lariBODO - 01:32:10
2 (896) De Streel Maroussia - Belgium - 01:39:50
3 (834) Bernatchez Annie - Canada - 01:41:33
4 (855) Chaudry Nadia - Norway - Team Norway - 01:50:24
5 (823) Gun Vivian - Malaysia - 01:56:20
Race Info:
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Event: |
Malaysia Action Asia 50 |
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Date: |
4 August, 2024 (Sunday) |
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Time: |
5am – 50km, 7am – 27km/11km |
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Location: |
Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa resort, Janda Baik, Malaysia |
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Distances: |
11 km, 27 km, 50km |
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Course: |
50km Strava track https://www.strava.com/routes/3184796520249451010 27km Strava track https://www.strava.com/routes/3184778536702764546 11km Strava track |
More Race Details at:
www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/
www.instagram.com/actionasiaevents/
www.twitter.com/ActionAsiaEvent
www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents
About Action Asia Events
Action Asia Events is the organizer of spectacular, extraordinary remote marathons for adventure travel seekers & trail running enthusiasts that inspire and push the boundaries of participants. Having organized over 290 events over the past 23 year’s Action Asia Events constantly keeps inspiring and pushes the boundaries of adventure travel, ultra-marathon and team building. Responsibilities range from designing courses, selection of the venue, dates and race format to raising the funds essential to run the race as well as liaising with NGO’s and non-profits for fund raising activities related to environment, education and health.
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