Eid Mubarak 2014

28 - 29 July 2014

(Schools Break 26 Jul - 3 Aug 2014)

Local Athletes Face Up To Task Of Training During The Fasting Month

Asmalia warming up before a training session.

WHILE Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan, some Muslim athletes have the added challenge of training during this period while they observe their religious duty.

National gymnast Nur Eli Ellina Azmi, 19, who took up the sport as an eight-year-old, said there were not much changes in her diet during Ramadan.

“For sahur, I would eat rice with some protein, vegetables and fruit,” said Ellina, who became a national gymnast at the age of 12.

She added that her morning intake was usually adequate to ensure that she had enough energy to train during the day.

“During the fasting month, we (Muslim gymnasts) tend to ask our coach for morning training sessions instead,” Ellina said, adding that they usually had more energy in the morning.

“Our (non-Muslim) teammates have been very understanding and do not mind accommodating to our suggestions,” she said.

The third semester Sports Science student at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) said their training sessions sometimes varied because of ongoing classes.

Ellina said training while fasting has been tolerable, with thirst being more of an issue than hunger.

“It’s harder if weare training in a non air-conditioned environment,” she said.

Not unlike Ellina, swimmer Asmalia Filzati Redzuan, 15, ensures that her intake atsahur is enough to get her through training.

For sahur, she has dates, accompanied by rice, chicken and vegetables.

She also drinks a litre of water to stay hydrated.

Asmalia, who started swimming at the age of four and began competitive swimming at seven, trains five times a week at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

“It’s quite tough to train while fasting,” Asmalia said, adding that she was obviously slower during training.

“Before, I had two training sessions but now I only have one.”

Asmalia swims approximately four to five kilometres a session, while workouts and core exercises are also part of the training regime.

Asmalia, who specialises in freestyle and butterfly, drinks another litre of water when breaking fast to replenish fluids lost during training.

National squash player, Zulhijjah Azan, 24, cites thirst as the biggest challenge in training while fasting.

“I’m training with non-Muslims and they have more energy than me (during training),” she said.

Training can last between one-and-a-half to two hours per session and Zulhijjah takes it easy by not pushing herself too much.

They train in the afternoons, while the evening sessions are on alternative days and comprise gym work and running.

As with many Muslim athletes, Zulhijjah has tweaked her training regime to cope during Ramadan.

She usually trains six times a week but only once a day during the fasting month.

“Instead of training for two hours I train for one,” she said, adding that her coach and teammates have been understanding.

Commonwealth Games 2014/Glasgow 2014

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23 Jul - 3 Aug 2014

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