Relay quartet seek Podium Programme inclusion without Bukit Jalil move

NAGOYA: The national women's 4x100m relay runners have urged the authorities to consider including them in the full-time Podium Programme without requiring them to relocate to Bukit Jalil. The request was raised after the newly formed quartet, comprising Nur Aishah Rofina Aling, Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal Azira, Fatin Ilyana Mat Nayan, and Nurul Wardatul Huwaida Mohd Hamka, made their debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

They finished fifth in the first heat with a time of 45. While the result was not enough to advance to the final, it was viewed positively as the four runners had only trained together for two weeks before the Games. Izzatul, who was crowned sprint queen at the recent Selangor Sukma, said they are not currently in the full-time Podium Programme because the centralised training requirement in Bukit Jalil does not fit their academic and training commitments.