BTS inspiration fuels Li Ren to Sukma record walk victory
SERDANG: Interest in the famous South Korean K-Pop group BTS fueled the passion of young Melaka athlete Tan Li Ren when winning the gold medal in the women's 20,000-meter walking event at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma) at the UPM Stadium on Tuesday.
Li Ren, 16, who made her debut on the Sukma stage, performed brilliantly when she became the first athlete to cross the finish line in 1 hour 59 minutes 41 seconds, thus renewing the championship record owned by Yee Zhi Xin from Negri Sembilan (2:05:47s) set in Sarawak 2024.
The athlete born in Bukit Baru, Melaka beat P. Kaarthiyani of the Federal Territories, who won silver in 2:01:40s, while the bronze went to Afiqah Hana Ahmad from Negri Sembilan (2:03:10).
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- New Straits Times
- Originally published
- Aug 18, 2026
- Updated here
- Aug 18, 2026
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- Malaysia Times desk (brief) — reporting by the source
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