BENGALURU: Ace trail runner Ashwini Ganapathi Bhat has added feather to her cap of achievements by securing a remarkable second-place finish among women at Malaysia’s TMBT 109-km race, the South East Asian nation’s oldest trail event. Ashwini, who recently became the first Indian woman to complete the grueling Japan Deep Ultra trail run, emerged as a top contender in a field of 288 runners. She finished an impressive 2nd among 69 women and 14th overall, crossing the finish line in 21 hours and 29 minutes. Her time was a mere 34 minutes behind the winner, Malaysia’s star trail runner, Rejlin James.While the trail run course’s 5,800-meter cumulative elevation gain was a formidable challenge, Ashwini credits her victory to overcoming an even tougher adversary: the climate. “The intense high temperatures and numbing humidity that lasted for eight hours were the biggest challenge,” recalled Ashwini, who is supported by the automotive retail tech company, Tekion. “My strategy was clear: remain conservative during the scorching day and unleash my full effort after sunset.”This deliberate approach paid off dramatically. As the sun set over the ridges and river valleys surrounding Mount Kinabalu, Ashwini mounted a stunning comeback, climbing from 8th to a sensational 2nd place in the race’s final 50 kilometers. The race’s statistics underscore its brutal nature; out of the 288 runners who started the 109-km event, only 184 managed to finish within the 33-hour cutoff.“I’ve never been driven by podiums or outcomes; my motivation lies in the discipline of consistent effort and the curiosity to explore what I’m capable of. This finish reflects that journey more than the result itself,” said Ashwini.
