Hong Kong triathlon star Oscar Coggins excels in Malaysia to send National Games warning
Tokyo Olympian cruises to second in season-opening Asia Triathlon Cup, while five more Hongkongers secure Asia Sprint Championships spots
Oscar Coggins sent an early-season warning to his 2025 National Games rivals after “cruising” to a second-placed Asia Triathlon Cup finish in Malaysia on Saturday.
Tokyo Olympian Coggins came home in 53 minutes and 18 seconds, 55 seconds behind Max Studer, of Switzerland, who completed the closing five-kilometre run in a breakneck 15:07.
Coggins’ fellow Hongkonger Jason Ng Tai-long was seventh after suffering a quadriceps cramp 2 kilometres from the finish line.
Head coach Andrew Wright, who attributed Ng’s cramp to the 25-year-old “not being fit enough for the pace they were running”, said Coggins had “exceeded expectations” in his season-opening event.
“He was back to his usual self,” Wright added. “We knew he was fit and in good form, but to beat some very good athletes and come second in that field, while he was relatively cruising, is pretty impressive. We haven’t done any race-specific work, so this is a very positive step.”
Coggins and Ng’s performances secured their spots for April’s Asia Sprint Championships (ASC) in Hong Kong, which will double as a selection race for November’s National Games.
