Singaporean distance runner Soh Rui Yong has set a new national record in the 5km race, clocking 15:08 at the Friday Night Under the Lights 5K in Battersea Park, London.

His new time breaks his previous record of 15:15, set at the same venue in August 2023 and matched in February 2024. This achievement adds to Soh’s already impressive array of national records, which include the 5000m on track (14:44.21), 10,000m (31:10.70), 10km road (31:37), half marathon (1:06:45), and marathon (2:22:59).

The 33-year-old runner’s latest record came despite challenging conditions, as Soh battled a throat and chest cold leading up to the race. “I was actually considering whether racing was the best course of action,” Soh remarked, though a strong training session earlier in the week convinced him he could handle the competition.

Held at night, the race presented its own difficulties. Soh pointed out that some parts of the park were poorly lit, which made it hard to maintain rhythm and pace. “There are sections of the park that are not very well lit… It’s important to see where you’re going and stay on your feet,” he explained. He chose to run conservatively at first, positioning himself towards the back of the field for better visibility, then gradually moved up towards the end of the race.

Soh completed the first kilometre in 2:58 and the second in 2:56, eventually settling into a steady pace and finishing with a strong push in the final kilometre. He crossed the line in 15:08, breaking his previous national record by seven seconds. “It felt like I was picking it up because I was passing people, but in reality, I was just slowing down less,” he reflected on his performance in the disorienting, dark conditions.

This record aligns with Soh’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of Singaporean long-distance running, particularly after being left out of the Singapore contingent for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Despite meeting the qualifying mark for the men’s 10,000m event and winning a silver medal in the men’s 10,000m at the May 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh—where he set a new national record—Soh was not selected by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). This decision followed a series of previous exclusions from the 2019 and 2021 SEA Games due to clashes with the council.

In response to his omission, Soh maintained a positive outlook, saying, “I’m focused on training well and building on the positive momentum we managed to establish at the SEA Games.”

He added , “Should I eventually be selected, I am confident I’ll be in shape to be the first Singaporean to break the 31-minute barrier for 10,000m at the Asian Games.”

Soh now looks ahead to his next race, the Valencia Half Marathon on 27 October 2024, where he aims to continue breaking records and proving that strong performances can be achieved with age, through smart training and self-care.

Team Liquid has claimed the title of world champions at The International 13 (TI13) Dota 2 tournament, defeating Gaimin Gladiators 3-0 in the grand final. Despite entering the match as underdogs due to their history of losing grand finals, especially against Gaimin Gladiators, Liquid delivered a dominant performance to secure their second TI victory.

Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve, is one of the most popular esports titles in the world. In this competitive game, two teams of five players each battle to destroy the opposing team’s base, known as the “Ancient,” while defending their own. The International, Dota 2’s premier annual tournament, is widely regarded as one of the largest and most prestigious events in the esports industry.

Liquid, one of the favourites going into the event, dispelled doubts with their commanding win. This marks their second International title, the first being in 2017, and the first with their current roster. Neta “33” Shapira became one of the few players to win the tournament twice, having previously triumphed with Tundra Esports in 2022.

For their triumph, Team Liquid not only raised the coveted Aegis of Champions but also took home over US$1.15 million. Gaimin Gladiators, the runners-up, earned just over US$358,000.

Throughout the tournament, Liquid demonstrated exceptional form. They only suffered one loss during the group stage and the seeding decider phases, going on to deliver one of the most dominant performances in the history of The International. Liquid did not lose a single game in the playoff bracket, making their path to the championship flawless.

In the final, Liquid started strong despite Gaimin’s momentum after defeating Tundra Esports in the lower bracket final earlier that day. Though the 3-0 scoreline did not live up to the epic expectations of many fans, Liquid’s decisive victory brought immense satisfaction to their supporters, who had long awaited their team breaking a string of grand final losses.

Coach William Lee delivered an emotional speech after the win, expressing gratitude for the team’s perseverance through difficult years: “I feel like they took a chance on a guy who’s never coached a winning team before. We had so many losses… I’m just so glad that people like Zai, Nisha, and Boxi took a chance on us,” Lee said.

The final, while not as close as some anticipated, offered fans a deeply rewarding conclusion. After years of near-misses in major tournaments, Team Liquid finally broke their grand final curse on the biggest stage of all.

Their commanding victory, combined with their beloved status in the Dota 2 community, led to an outpouring of emotion, with many fans visibly in tears as they witnessed Liquid lift the Aegis.

Liquid’s unprecedented dominance throughout the playoffs only added to the historic nature of their win, which will go down as one of the most satisfying and celebrated moments in Dota 2 history.

The International 2024, also known as TI 13, was the thirteenth edition of Dota 2’s premier esports tournament, held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Six teams were directly invited, while ten teams qualified through regional tournaments. Two teams each came from Western Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and South America, while Eastern Europe and North America each sent one team.

The base prize pool of the tournament was set at US$1.6 million, with an additional US$963,967 added from 25% of all Compendium sales, bringing the total prize pool to over US$2.5 million.