Ow Yeong Yu Xiang – SEA Games 2015 Athletics Squad

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Name: Ow Yeong Yu Xiang

Height: 1.88m

Weight: 76kg

Date of Birth: 19 March 1995 (20yrs)

Personal Best(s): 54.56s (Men 400m hurdles, 2013 National School)

Career Highlight(s): –

Q) What are your hopes, dream and target this SEA Games?

I hope that i can do a 53s for my 400m hurdles, both for myself and my beloved friend Zaki. This was the promise i made with him and i really hope i can honour my words with him back then. Also, the timing is a significant testament that i have done my very best and i will do those who are supporting me (family and friends) proud.

Q) How’s your preparation for the SEA Games?

My current progress is good, just improving on my hurdling technique and building up my running form.

Q) What are some of the biggest challenges in your sports career so far leading to SEA Games and your athletics career?

One of the biggest challenges was when i went to OCS during my NS liability. i wanted to continue track back then but the trainings in camp made me very tired that even if i wanted to train after book out, i could not train properly like i used to. And also due to the heavy load we carried during outfields, i gained some muscle mass so when i started training proper, i had a hard time trying to tone down and develop back my running form. Furthermore, as the first few training sessions were focusing more on getting back the speed, i sustained a strain on my hamstring, making it even tougher to get back to what I was before i enlisted.

Q) How did you specialise in your particular event? Why this event, what’s the attraction?

I was first thrown to 400m hurdles just to fill up the spot for the school during Nationals, but as time passed, i grew to love the event and i continued training on it. i guess the attraction would be the momentum you have when you hurdle and run at the same time, and your mind will be preoccupied with the stepping throughout most of the race.

Q) Who is your coach, tell us more about him/her. Also a mention of your previous coaches.

My coach is Mr Han Zhong Jian. I have trained with him for 8 years, and he is a very dedicated coach. He will stay throughout the training to pinpoint the mistakes made by me, give advices on running techniques and take videos of my race for analysis. He used to be an athlete himself.

Q) Do you take care of your nutrition and diet? Your opinion on supplements and food.

I do take note of my diet, like avoiding those soft drinks and fast food. And about supplements, i feel that moderate consumption is necessary to replenish the loss during training and help our body to recover faster.

Q) Aside from athletics, what else interest you? You could say the other part of your life beyond athletics.

I like to read science and economics books as it always have the interesting element in it that gets me indulged in reading each time. For economics, i get to know better about foreign affairs and the miscellaneous things happening around the world and for science, there are always new updates about technology or research that will get you curious about what new stuff is coming up next.

Q) How do you fit in your training/competing with your family and studies/work?

I usually train on weekdays so that my weekends are free for my family and friends. When i was schooling, I will always make it a point to study every night regardless how tired i am from training so that i will not lag behind my classmates.

Q) Share with the readers, some aspects of your training regime.

I train 5 times a week, one weight session, two technique/speed session and two endurance sessions

Q) What are your long term athletics goals?

I hope that i can to compete in Asian Games, Asean University Games and World University Games one day as I want to have the experience of running alongside the top runners before I hang my spikes for goods.

Q) What advice do you have for young aspiring athletes?

Training hard is one thing, as the other important thing is belief. On your road to achieving your goals, believe that you can do it, so that others will follow suit. And once you achieve your goals, always remember who helped you during the process and be appreciative.