Story by Rachel Yip/Red Sports. Photos by Lee Jian Wei, Soh Jun Wei and Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Zubin Muncherji of Singapore in action during the men’s 400m final. He clocked a time of 47.87s to finish sixth. (Photo 1 © Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports)
National Stadium, Friday, June 12, 2015 — Singapore’s Zubin Percy Muncherji finished sixth in the men’s 400m final at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games track and field competition. He clocked a time of 47.87 seconds.
Zubin had earlier clocked a season best time of 47.71s in the heats to be ranked third in a field of 10. However, the youngest competitor in the field at 18 years old failed to better that time in the final.
“When I saw the time, I was a bit disappointed with myself, but I guess I just have to come back stronger,” Zubin commented on his performance.
“The home crowd was electrifying, especially when they panned across my face with the camera. That support really got me going. It was a shame I could not deliver today. I just got to keep my head up and move forward.”
The other Singaporean representative, Ng Chin Hui, finished seventh in a time of 48.83s.
Thailand’s Kunanon Sukkaew ran a personal best time of 46.00s to pip Vietnam’s Quach Cong Lich to the gold by 0.02s. He set a new Games record in the process. Filipino Edgardo Alejan Jr., who was the silver medallist in the last Games, won the bronze with a season’s best time of 47.08s.
In the women’s 400m final, Singaporeans Goh Chui Ling and T. Piriyah finished sixth and seventh respectively. Chui Ling bettered the personal best that she had set earlier in the year, clocking in at 57.48s. Piriyah came in 0.3s later at 57.78s.
Chui Ling and Piriyah were both part of the 4 x 400m relay team that broke the national record yesterday. Understandably, fatigue was a factor to overcome.
“We are still quite physically exhausted (from yesterday). So regardless of the timing, we are quite satisfied, especially with the national record yesterday,” said Chui Ling.
The home crowd’s support was crucial in Chui Ling putting in a personal best performance despite her exhaustion. Said Chui Ling, “Before I came out, I was quite nervous. I was thinking what was it going to be like competing in an individual event in this majestic stadium. When I came out, I heard the crowd roar and it was really quite amazing. I felt like I was at home. I could do this a million times over and still do the same thing.”
The Singaporeans were up against strong opponents. Lining up in lane six was defending champion Treewadee Yongphan from Thailand, while 2013 silver medallist Vietnam’s Quach Thi Lan was in lane seven. She had earlier won gold in the 4x400m relay with Nguyen Thi Huyen in lane five.
The Vietnamese finished one-two with Nguyen taking the gold in a personal best time of 52.00s and Quach clocking 52.52s to win the silver. Malaysia’s Shereen Samson Vallabouy ran a personal best time of 54.26s to win the bronze, leaving Yongphan in fourth place.
Men’s 400m final results
1st Kunanon Sukkaew (THA) – 46.00s (Games record)
2nd Quach Cong Lich (VIE) – 46.02s (Personal best)
3rd Edgardo Alejan Jr. (PHI) – 47.08s (Season’s best)
4th Luong Van Thao (VIE) – 47.16s (PB)
5th Mohamad Arif Zulhilmi (MAS) – 47.43s
6th Zubin Percy Muncherji (SIN) – 47.87s
7th Ng Chin Hui (SIN) – 48.83s
8th Dinesh Krishnan (MAS) – 49.04s
Women’s 400m final results
1st Nguyen Thi Huyen (VIE) – 52.00s (PB)
2nd Quach Thi Lan (VIE) – 52.52s
3rd Shereen Samson Vallabouy (MAS) – 54.26s (PB)
4th Treewadee Yongphan (THA) – 55.13s
5th Nurul Faizah Asma Mazlan (MAS) – 55.64s
6th Goh Chui Ling (SIN) – 57.48 (PB)
7th T Piriyah (SIN) – 57.78
8th Atchima Eng-Chuan (THA) – Did not start
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