SAI Thiruvananthapuram hosts Malaysian athletes ahead of Asian Games 2026
The Sports Authority of India’s LNCPE centre in Thiruvananthapuram hosted a month-long high-performance training camp for Malaysian athletics that ended on September 10 as part of preparations for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, which begin on September 19. Two Malaysian middle- and long-distance athletes — 800m runner Wan Muhammad Fazri and 400m/800m athlete Umar Osman — trained at the facility under head coach Mohamed Azarudeen.
The camp, conducted by Malaysia Athletics, was one of several international training initiatives at SAI centres ahead of the Asian Games; boxers from Nepal trained at SAI Guwahati and kabaddi players from Iran used SAI Sonepat. In July, the Athletics Federation of India requested SAI LNCPE to facilitate the Malaysian delegation’s boarding, lodging and training arrangements at no cost to the Sports Authority of India. The Thiruvananthapuram programme ran for a month and concluded on September 10.
On his prior connections to India, Azarudeen said: "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," Azarudeen told SAI Media. He also commented on the facilities: "I know our facilities are very good, and I think it is a good opportunity for Malaysian Athletics to get exposure here."
Azarudeen outlined the camp’s sporting objectives, saying: "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," he said.
The coach explained the decision to prepare in India rather than Europe: "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," Azarudeen added. The camp’s schedule also included competition plans in India, with participation in the World Athletics Continental Tour – Silver Level Meeting in Bhubaneswar on August 22 part of those plans.
Azarudeen pointed to competition exposure in India as a training benefit, saying: "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 said.
On the Thiruvananthapuram centre, Azarudeen said: "SAI Thiruvananthapuram is something very special. It is important to note the Olympians who represented India trained in the Thiruvananthapuram SAI centre. That makes it special. I can say it is a lucky training centre," he said. He added: "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 told SAI Media, adding that exchange programmes will help both Malaysia and India boost competitive levels.
The month-long Thiruvananthapuram camp ended on September 10 and formed part of the Malaysian delegation’s build-up to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which begin on September 19.