'Abnormal' ECG result puts Soh's attempt in doubt

Top distance runner Soh Rui Yong's bid for a 10,000m medal at the Thailand SEA Games has hit a major snag, as the 34-year-old Singaporean could miss the Dec 9-20 meet due to a health-related twist.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

On Dec 4, Soh went for a routine pre-Games medical screening at Changi General Hospital (CGH), where he was informed that he might not be cleared to compete.

In a memo from the hospital seen by The Straits Times, the doctor noted that Soh's electrocardiogram (ECG) - a test to track one's heart activity - is "abnormal, with multiple premature ventricular complexes", adding that he is "likely to need further cardiovascular evaluation before clearance".

A two-time marathon champion at the Games, Soh was aiming for a podium spot in the 10,000m after winning a silver in the 2023 edition. On Nov 29, he clocked 30min 33.29sec at the Nittaidai Challenge Games in Tokyo to eclipse the previous 10,000m national record of 31:02.40 set by Shaun Goh in August.

While he is disappointed, Soh told ST that he has not experienced any cardiovascular difficulties previously and hopes that the issue will be resolved in time for his race on Dec 16.

Despite the development, he is still planning to compete in the half marathon and marathon at this weekend's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM), where he is gunning for a double triumph on Dec 6 and 7.