vritimesKUALA LUMPUR, 2 September 2026 – HELP University athlete Daren James Nair Rodney James has been named Olahragawan (Sportsman) of the Sukan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi (SUKIPT) 2026, following an outstanding campaign that saw him claim three gold medals and set three new Games Records.
The 24-year-old distance runner delivered a clean sweep across three demanding athletics events, winning gold in the 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m.
Daren also rewrote the SUKIPT record books in all three events, recording:
3,000m Steeplechase: 9:37.395,000m: 15:16.4210,000m: 33:04.02
His performances earned him one of the Games’ highest individual honours, marking a significant milestone in his competitive career and a proud achievement for HELP University.
The recognition is particularly meaningful for Daren, who had previously achieved a similar feat of three gold medals and three Games Records at an earlier edition of SUKIPT, but missed out on the Sportsman title on that occasion.
Speaking to Berita Harian following his victory, Daren described receiving the 2026 honour as almost dreamlike, having only learned that he would receive the award approximately two hours before the ceremony.
With SUKIPT behind him, Daren is already looking towards his next challenge: the ASEAN University Games (AUG) 2026 in December, where he has qualified to compete in the 5,000m.
His immediate goal is clear: to break the 15-minute barrier.
“I’ve never run below 15 minutes, so I want to achieve that target before shifting my focus to the SEA Games next year,” Daren said.
Despite competing in three events at SUKIPT, he completed the 5,000m in 15:16.42, giving him confidence that an even faster performance is within reach when he is able to concentrate on a single event.
For Daren, however, the achievement represents more than medals, records and times. He dedicated his success to his mother, Ram Jeyanthi, who raised him and his two younger sisters as a single mother.
He also paid tribute to his coach, M Arul Thevar, a former national half-marathon record holder who has coached Daren since 2018, helping him develop from a school runner into a national-level athlete.
Daren’s achievement adds another chapter to HELP University’s growing sporting accomplishments and reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in pursuing excellence both academically and beyond the classroom.
As he prepares for the ASEAN University Games in December, Daren will carry with him not only three SUKIPT gold medals and three new Games Records, but a bigger target: going faster than he ever has before and taking the next step in his journey towards the regional sporting stage.
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