At only 25, Penang’s long-distance runner Yeow Ni Jia has quickly risen to prominence as Malaysia’s latest marathon sensation.
He captured the Malaysian Men’s Full Marathon Champion title at the recent 2025 Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon (KLSCM) with an impressive time of 2 hours and 36 minutes, earning himself a well-deserved spot to represent the country at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December this year.
“It’s a tremendous honour and blessing to win this title. This truly marks a meaningful milestone in my journey,” he said.
Ni Jia told Buletin Mutiara that the victory came as a pleasant surprise and expressed deep gratitude after emerging triumphant in a highly competitive field.
Reflecting on his race strategy, Ni Jia admitted that he began without a clear pacing plan.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to pace myself at the start. I thought about picking up the pace midway, but the early tempo was already quite fast. Thankfully, national record holder Tan Hong Leong advised me to follow his rhythm, and that really made a difference,” the young Penangite shared.
He noted that the KLSCM route is well-known for its difficulty, with this year’s course featuring even more uphill sections towards the end, testing runners’ endurance.
“The final stretch was extremely tough, but the energy and cheers from the crowd gave me that extra push to keep going until the finish line,” he said.
Although his 2:36 finish was slightly slower than his personal best of 2:27 achieved at the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia recently, Ni Jia said he was proud of recording his best-ever performance under humid conditions.
“This is my strongest result in hot and humid weather, so I’m really happy with it,” he quipped.
After a short recovery period following the Gold Coast race, Ni Jia resumed about three months of structured training in preparation for KLSCM.
“Since I work full-time, I can only manage around 100 to 110 kilometres of running per week. I focus more on quality sessions and adequate rest to prevent overtraining or injuries,” he explained.
Now employed as a software engineer in Kuala Lumpur, Ni Jia expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Penang Forward Sports Club, which has supported him since his early running days.
“They believed in young athletes like me when we were still unknown. Without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
He also extended his thanks to PUMA Malaysia, Garmin Malaysia, and Cura Hoju for their sponsorship and recovery support.
“Their backing has been invaluable, and I couldn’t have achieved this without their motivation,” he added.
The Penang Forward Sports Club and PUMA Malaysia have played a pivotal role in nurturing Ni Jia’s talent, funding his overseas participation, including the Gold Coast Marathon, where he set his personal record.
The Penang Forward Sports Club also rewarded him for his victory at KLSCM.
When asked how he manages his busy schedule, Ni Jia smiled and said it had been a long journey of discipline and dedication.
“Of course, I’ve had to sacrifice some leisure time. But I make training enjoyable by running with friends. I also dedicate one full rest day every weekend for recovery,” he said.
Qualifying for the SEA Games marks a new milestone in Yeow’s athletic career for the rising talent.
“It’ll be my first time representing Malaysia in a marathon, which is something truly special. My main goal is to gain experience and learn from regional competitors. A medal would be a bonus,” he said.
With about two months before the Games, Ni Jia is focused on maintaining peak fitness, staying injury-free, and striving for a top-five finish.
He believes Malaysia’s running scene is showing steady progress, with more young talents emerging.
“If the government could make track facilities more accessible to promising athletes, it would help raise the overall standard. Limited access to training venues remains one of our key challenges,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Datuk Lim Choo Hooi, who is the Penang Forward Sports Club president, acknowledged that Malaysia’s running standards are still developing and not yet on par internationally.
“Although long-distance running isn’t classified as a core sport by the Youth and Sports Ministry, many talented runners continue to persevere. We hope they’ll one day earn global recognition,” he said.
He added that with the strong backing of the club’s adviser, Datuk Tom Khoo, the club continues to sponsor promising athletes for international competitions.
“In 2023, we also sponsored amateur runner Christopher Soosai to compete in the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Latvia. We hope such initiatives will inspire more runners, with both private and government support, to reach the global stage,” he shared.
Lim commended Ni Jia as a highly promising athlete and pledged the club’s continued commitment to supporting his SEA Games journey.
“We hope he not only achieves outstanding results but also shares his experience with the next generation,” he added.
Lim also extended appreciation to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi, former exco Soon Lip Chee, and the Penang State Sports Council for their continued assistance.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix courtesy of Arena Malaysia and Yeow Ni Jia