PHNOM PENH: He may have won his first SEA Games track medal and set a new national record, but runner Soh Rui Yong was already thinking ahead to the 2025 Games.
And he is eyeing a return to familiar territory, the marathon.
“I do think it’s my last ever track race, because from next SEA Games onwards, I am going to be racing the marathon and I’d like to get the gold medal there,” said Soh, who is a two-time Games marathon champion.
Soh clinched a silver medal in the Southeast Asian Games’ men’s 10,000m race at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Thursday (May 11).
The Singaporean finished in 31:10.70, behind Indonesia’s Rikki Marthin Luther Simbolon (31:08.85) to take his first podium finish of the Games and erasing his previous national record of 31:12.05.
Soh, who kept close quarters with Marthin for much of the event, would share his drink with the Indonesian during the race in an act of sportsmanship after the race leader missed his cup at the water point.
The country’s last medallist in the men’s 10,000m was Jagtar Singh, who won bronze at the 1983 Games.
“My expectations coming in wasn’t very high for this SEA Games. Six weeks preparation, so to come away with fourth (in the 5,000m) and second, it’s extremely satisfying,” said Soh.
“Obviously, I would have been a lot happier if I had managed to accelerate in the last lap and catch the leader, but he really deserves it.”
