Get ready for a sprint showdown that’s set to ignite the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, Thailand! The men’s and women’s 100m races, the crown jewels of athletics, are kicking off on Thursday, December 11, and the lineup is nothing short of electrifying. But here’s where it gets controversial: with regional powerhouse Muhd Azeem Fahmi of Malaysia notably absent, the men’s race is wide open—and opinions are divided on who’ll take the gold. Let’s dive into the details.
In the men’s category, all eyes are on Thailand’s Puripol Boonson and Indonesia’s Lalu Muhammad Zohri, the two fastest sprinters in Southeast Asia this year. At just 19, Boonson is a force to be reckoned with. He holds the Thai national record of 10.06 seconds, set in 2023, and clocked the region’s quickest time of 2025 at 10.15. But is youth enough to secure victory? Zohri, 25, brings experience to the track with a personal best of 10.03 from 2019. Though his fastest time this year is 10.21, his consistency makes him a strong contender. And this is the part most people miss: Singapore’s Marc Brian Louis (10.31) and Malaysia’s Jonathan Nyepa (10.40) could pull off a surprise in this 14-man field.
Switching to the women’s race, Veronica Shanti Pereira of Singapore is the undisputed favorite—but is she unbeatable? The 2023 Asian Championships and Asian Games silver medallist returns to the very stadium where she claimed her continental title and set her personal best of 11.20, also a Singaporean national record. Her season’s best of 11.40 puts her well ahead of her closest rival, the Philippines’ Zion Corrales-Nelson (11.52). Yet, Corrales-Nelson’s teammate Kristina Marie Knott (11.56) could shake things up. Can anyone challenge Shanti’s dominance, or will she reign supreme once again?
For fans eager to catch the action live, mark your calendars for December 11 and stay tuned for streaming details. This isn’t just a race—it’s a battle of speed, strategy, and legacy. Who do you think will take the gold? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your predictions and why you’re rooting for your favorite sprinter!
