ATC 2022 expected to draw 1,000 triathletes from 35 countries

PUTRAJAYA, July 14 (Bernama) -- Some 1,000 participants from 35 countries are expected to participate in the Asia Triathlon Cup (ATC) 2022 at the Silverlake Village Outlet, Batu Gajah, Perak from Nov 18 to 20.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu is confident that the ATC, which returns to Malaysia after the last time it was held in Sabah in the 1980s, will be able to attract all the best triathletes in the region to enliven the meet.

“I am very proud of the ATC because it is proof that Malaysia has opened its doors wide to organise many international sporting events.

"Previously, we have organised the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers and the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycling championship will follow after this," he told a press conference after the launch of ATC 2022 here today.

Group E football matches of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here were held last month while the LTdL is scheduled to take place from Oct 11 to 18.

Ahmad Faizal said the organisation of ATC 2022 would also give a boost the country's tourism sector.

The ATC 2022 offers six categories, namely elite men and women aged 23 years and above, ages 19 to 23 years and ages 16 to 19 years.

More interestingly, the meet will be the last platform for triathletes in the region to collect points to determine who will be the overall champion of the six series this year.

Apart from the main categories, the Perak Triathlon Association as the co-organiser with the Malaysia Triathlon Association plans to organise age-group races for local participants, thus becoming a platform to find local champions.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Triathlon Association president Tony Tan Beng Hong expects 20 national athletes to take on Malaysia's challenge at the ATC 2022.

-- BERNAMA