BANGKOK: For nearly a decade, Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli has been one of Malaysian athletics’ most enduring figures, a sprinter who has weathered eras, rivals and injuries, yet continues to carry herself with a quiet fire.
At 32, and competing in her sixth SEA Games since her debut in 2015, Zaidatul admits the region has never been faster.
But rather than feel daunted, she embraces the challenge with a veteran’s calm.
"The start list for today’s 100m is strong (Dec 11). It isn’t only Veronica Shanti Pereira that’s strong. There are others as well," she said after training at the Supachalasai Stadium on Tuesday.
"I came here without putting any undue pressure on myself. If I put a target and don’t meet it, I will be disappointed. I just want to do my best and keep reminding myself - you’re competing against yourself, not others."
Zaidatul enters Bangkok as the Malaysian national record holder, thanks to her blistering 11.49s run at the Perlis Super Series Open last year.
Her season’s best of 11.65s, set at the Asian Championships in Gumi in May, shows she is still within striking distance of her sharpest form.
In Phnom Penh two years ago, she finished fourth with 11.83s, a result that still stings, but also fuels her.
This time, she faces a field led by defending champion Shanti, who clocked 11.41s, and Thailand’s Supanich Poolkerd (11.58s).
The Filipino duo of Zion Corrales Nelson (PB 11.40s) and Kristina Knott — whose electric 10.27s national record remains one of the region’s talking points, also loom large.
Yet Zaidatul’s goals remain simple - improve the clock, stay healthy, and finish knowing she emptied the tank.
If Zaidatul is the seasoned anchor of the women’s squad, Jonathan Nyepa plays a similar role for the men.
The 29-year-old Sarawakian has also been representing Malaysia since 2015.
His personal best, 10.28s, set in South Korea seven years ago, still stands as a reminder of the speed he carries when everything clicks.
This season, he clocked 10.40s at the Malaysian Open.
Now the senior member of the men’s 4x100m squad, Jonathan embraces the responsibility.
"I feel proud to lead the lads," he said.
"They can always ask what the competition is like. I can give them a clear picture so they know what to expect and compete at their best."
He has seen Southeast Asian sprinting evolve dramatically.
"From my first Games till now, the changes are huge. In the past, you could win with 10.4s. Now you won’t even make the podium. We have to face reality."
For Jonathan, the mission is clear - chase a new personal best and with some luck, a medal.
The individual event would be a bonus, but he hopes the relay team can deliver something special.
In a Games defined by rising standards and shrinking margins, Malaysia’s sprint veterans know the clock is the ultimate adversary. But both Zaidatul and Jonathan arrive knowing they still belong and believing their best race may yet be ahead.
