Soh Rui Yong Finishes Seventh in SEA Games 10,000m Final

Singapore’s long-distance runner, Soh Rui Yong, secured a seventh-place finish in the men’s 10,000m final at the 2023 SEA Games held in Bangkok on December 16. Competing at the Suphachalasai Stadium, Soh completed the race in a time of 31:31.91, while his compatriot Shaun Goh finished in eighth place with a time of 31:45.26.

The gold medal was claimed by Thailand’s Kieran Tuntivate, who crossed the finish line in 29:41.81. The silver went to the Philippines’ Yacine Guermali, clocking 29:43.94, and Indonesia’s reigning champion Rikki Marthin Luther Simbolon took bronze with a time of 29:54.64. This victory marked Tuntivate’s third gold medal of the Games, having previously triumphed in the 1,500m and 5,000m events.

Soh expressed a sense of acceptance regarding his performance, stating he was not disappointed to miss out on retaining his silver medal from the previous SEA Games in Cambodia. “I was lucky to clinch it at the Cambodia Games,” he remarked. Reflecting on race conditions, he noted that the competition in Bangkok was stronger, with athletes like Guermali and Tuntivate having recorded times in the 27-minute range.

The environmental conditions played a significant role in the race, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius at the start. Soh pointed out that his national record of 30:33.29, set just last month in Japan, was achieved under more favorable conditions of around 7 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Earlier this year, Soh ended Singapore’s 40-year wait for a medal in the SEA Games with his silver in the 10,000m. His participation in this year’s Games was initially uncertain due to an irregularity detected in his electrocardiogram (ECG) during pre-Games screening. Fortunately, he was cleared to compete and had recently celebrated victories at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

Soh’s journey at the SEA Games has been particularly meaningful to him, as he recalled his debut at the 2015 edition in Singapore, where he won a marathon. “I had a really, really good experience at the SEA Games,” he said. “I got to mentor some of the younger ones, not just from Singapore, but from the other countries as well.”

As the SEA Games continue, athletes and fans alike are eager to witness more thrilling performances. For updates and action from the Games, viewers can access live coverage on mewatch and follow Mediacorp Sports on social media platforms.