Ruveshwaran triumphs with 2 medals at VTF 2

A student from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET) has secured gold and silver medals in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events, respectively, at the Varsity Track and Field Championship 2023 (VTF 2) organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

Surrounded by other outstanding athletes, many of whom are seasoned Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) and national competitors, Ruveshwaran Balachandran felt a surge of pride while proudly carrying UniKL’s flag at the national university games.

“I feel shocked and happy because it was a hard race since all of them are SUKMA and national athletes,” expressed the 20-year-old runner.

“The preparation was challenging due to a high fever two weeks before the competition. I managed to do some workouts that were not enough to prepare for the main competition.

“My coach told me to treat it like a time trial at this competition. The time that I ran at this competition is not good enough yet, but I appreciate winning two medals for UniKL,” the student revealed.

Ruveshwaran, who is currently pursuing a Diploma of Engineering Technology in Marine Engineering in the fourth semester, was also SUKMA’s Bronze medalist.

Talking about the varsity race, the student encountered specific obstacles that tested his resilience and mental fortitude.

“On the 5,000-meter run, I got hit on my calf with a spike shoe, but it is normal during a tactical race, and I managed to maintain my focus,” the athlete shared when asked about the challenges faced during the races.

“It is indeed a slow time for me, but I am glad I finished the race with two medals despite having less training,” he further noted.

For the record, VTF 2 was held from May 26 to 28, 2023, at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan, Pahang, and involved 30 universities.