KUCHING: Sarawak’s Elvin Zhi Xian Yap is already setting new goals after storming to a record 14.52s in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Borneo Games Kuching 2025, vowing to dip under 14 seconds in future races.
The 21-year-old sprinter thrilled the home crowd at the Sarawak Stadium, Petra Jaya, this morning as he powered past the field to deliver gold for Sarawak, rewriting the Games record books in the process.
He edged out Sabah’s Muhammad Ilham Jaffar, who took silver with 14.67s, while fellow Sabahan, Muhamad Fazrul Nizam Ajah, claimed bronze in 14.69s.
Another Sarawakian, Jeffryson Luat Syalvester W. Shakespear, finished fourth in 15.28s.
When contacted by the Sarawak Tribune after his win, Elvin expressed gratitude and pride at the achievement, describing it as the culmination of years of hard work.
“I’m very grateful to win the 110m hurdles gold and set a new record. I feel proud because all the hard training has finally paid off.
“This is the result of prayers and support from my family, coach, and friends. This victory motivates me to keep improving my performance to an even higher level,” he said.
Elvin admitted he had expected a strong run in the final, targeting a time around 14.4 to 14.5 seconds, but now his focus is on pushing the boundaries further.
“For me, if possible, I want to set the record below 14 seconds (in the 13s). If I can, I will prepare for the next Borneo Games in two years to further improve the record or my personal best,” he added.
His victory not only boosted Sarawak’s medal tally on home soil but also cemented his reputation as one of the state’s brightest track stars.
Currently, Elvin’s personal best stands at 14.4 seconds, while the national record remains a tough target at 13.67 seconds.
Standing at 190 centimetres tall, the lanky hurdler will now turn his attention to the Varsity Track & Field (VTF) Grand Final 2025, scheduled for November 14-16 at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium Sports Complex.
