KUALA LUMPUR: The German athletics squad has selected Kuala Lumpur as their training base to prepare their elite sprinters for the 2025 World Athletics Relays, which are set to take place in Guangzhou, China, in May next year. Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) general manager Nurhayati Karim announced this development, highlighting the expected arrival of the German team for a three-week training camp in April.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this collaboration between MAF and the German Athletics Association (GAA) aims to provide mutual benefits, offering national athletes valuable experience through joint training sessions. The training camp will also encompass coaching clinics and workshops involving both Malaysian and German coaches. Nurhayati expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, noting that Stadium Merdeka is being considered as a potential venue for the camp.
GAA chairman Idriss Gonschinska emphasized that the choice of Malaysia was influenced by both the favorable training conditions and t
he established personal relations with MAF. The training program will feature Germany’s men’s and women’s 4×100 meters relay teams, the men’s and women’s 4x400m teams, and the 4x400m mixed relay team. Gonschinska also reflected on his past cooperation with Malaysian athletes, adding a personal touch to this collaboration.
Julian Reus, the German athletics sprint team manager, shared his ambition to bring Germany’s top sprinters to Kuala Lumpur, including notable athletes like Owen Ansah and Gina Luckenkemper. Reus highlighted the importance of the World Relays for the German team and expressed his determination to have the best sprinters train in Malaysia, provided they are in top physical condition.
