National mark boosts Ang's Asian, SEA Games hopes

Despite having to log on for night tutorials to prepare for his specialist exams, national hurdler Ang Chen Xiang aced his test on the track on April 24.

- David Lee

He clocked 13.80sec to lower the national record again in winning the Singapore Open Track and Field Championships' 110m hurdles final at the National Stadium.

In the process, he sliced 0.01sec off his previous mark set at the Hong Kong Athletics Series 2 meet on March 29.

Following his win, the 30-year-old told The Straits Times: "I'm used to working and training. Having the tutorial before competition did take some of the pressure off, so I don't mind it."

The National University Hospital paediatric resident has been used to starting his day at 6am and sleeping at 11pm, using the time to juggle his medical and sporting pursuits.

Notably, he was Singapore's first SEA Games 110m hurdles champion in 56 years when he was awarded joint gold with Thailand's Natthaphon Dansungnoen at the 2023 Games in Cambodia.

On April 24, he was the clear winner, with Hong Kong's Liu Hiu Long (13.83) and Cheung Siu Hang (13.96) completing the podium, while 19-year-old Singaporeans Lucas Fun (15.19) and Raqib Razak (15.86) were seventh and eighth respectively.