PETALING JAYA: Former national long distance runner K. Prabudass has a simple message for those who run Malaysian athletics - do not leave the long-distance runners behind.
The 36-year-old veteran, competing for Negri Sembilan at the Malaysian Open, won the 10,000m gold in 32:28.86s on what was essentially a comeback run, returning after more than two years away from the event and only four months of training following a six-month injury layoff.
But his thoughts after crossing the line were not about himself. They were about the runners coming after him.
"Long-distance needs the same focus as sprinting," he said.
"If you are sending sprinters to competitions, send the middle and long-distance runners too. They deserve equal support."
Prabudass pointed to Indonesia as a benchmark Malaysia should be measuring itself against. Their marathon athletes, he noted, had been posting times that could trouble European runners, a level Malaysian athletes are far from reaching, not for lack of ability, but lack of opportunity.
"They just have less exposure. Long distance requires high-altitude training and consistent international competition. Without that, the gap only grows," he said.
He was careful not to single out individuals but was clear that the system needs to do more.
"I hope the associations involved will step up. I am saying this for the juniors’ benefit, not mine."
Those juniors, he added, are already showing the kind of promise that makes the neglect all the more frustrating.
"When I was their age, I did not run their times. They have a good future."
Prabudass finished ahead of Kedah’s M. Devindra (32:39.15) and fellow Negri Sembilan athlete T. Jayvind, who took bronze in 32:41.33.
He has not committed to a full return to the national setup but has not closed the door either, describing his participation here as a gauging exercise.
"At 36, clocking around 32 minutes feels good. I just want to test myself against the juniors and see where I stand."
