Malaysia's Athletes Train in India Ahead of Asian Games 2026

High-Performance Training Camp in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - The Sports Authority of India's LNCPE center served as a high-performance training venue for Malaysian athletes preparing for the Asian Games, with their month-long camp concluding on September 10, as reported in a recent announcement.

The training session featured two Malaysian middle and long-distance runners, Wan Muhammad Fazri, specializing in the 800m, and Umar Osman, who competes in both the 400m and 800m events. They were coached by Mohamed Azarudeen during this camp organized by Malaysia Athletics.

This initiative is part of a broader trend where international athletes are utilizing SAI facilities in India in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya starting September 19. For instance, boxers from Nepal have trained at the SAI Guwahati campus, while Iranian kabaddi players have utilized the SAI Sonepat campus.

The Thiruvananthapuram camp was facilitated at no cost to SAI, following a request from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in July to arrange boarding, lodging, and training for the Malaysian delegation.

Azarudeen, the Malaysian athletics coach, expressed that choosing India for training was a natural decision. Having previously been part of the Indian national team and associated with SAI Bangalore, he noted, "I was part of the Indian national team from 2020 to 2025. Then I resigned from SAI Bangalore and joined Malaysian Athletics. So, it is not a surprise for me to be here in India," he shared with SAI Media.

He emphasized that the primary goal of bringing the Malaysian athletes to India was to expose them to a more competitive training environment and allow them to train alongside Indian athletes.

"The first thing is exposure, to know what the Indian standards are. My main objective is for Malaysian middle- and long-distance athletes to see what facilities we have in India. The second thing is training and sparring with Indian athletes, which is more beneficial for them," Azarudeen explained.

He further highlighted that experiencing the competitive level in India was more relevant for his athletes than training in a European setting. "It is very important for us in preparing for the Asian Games. I didn’t choose any European countries or other countries with European standards where they compete in European championships. The Asian Games are a top priority for us," he added.

During their stay in India, the Malaysian team also had the chance to compete in the World Athletics Continental Tour – Silver Level Meeting held in Bhubaneswar on August 22. Azarudeen noted, "When they come and compete in India, they can experience the level of competition here. India is very dominant in the Asian Games. Last year, India won a lot of medals, including 16 medals from athletes who trained at SAI Bangalore itself.

"So, spending quality time here and training with these athletes is very important for the Malaysians before the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. When they come to India, they can compete with athletes here, and moreover, it helps them improve their race strategies and the way they think about races," he added.

Azarudeen praised the training environment at SAI Thiruvananthapuram, noting its significance due to its association with Indian athletes who have achieved great success. "SAI Thiruvananthapuram is something very special. It is important to note that the Olympians who represented India trained in Thiruvananthapuram SAI centre. That makes it special. I can say it is a lucky training centre," he remarked.

He also mentioned that this experience has fostered greater sporting interaction between Malaysia and India. "The culture that is shared between Malaysian Athletics and Indian Athletics is something that has been memorable. It is a lesson for them that they will carry for a lifetime, and it will take them towards victory. That is why I brought them here, and it is always special to train here," he concluded, adding that exchange programs will enhance competitive levels for both nations.