[S I M T A N]

Lan Cell ..... later the whole Gurkha Regiments in SG come and race how? Many can hit below 7mins ...... Dr Soh becomes Dr Sohai Hong KAN Liow

So far only one Gurkha has managed to achieve a sub-7 time for the 2.4km run. The rest of the Gurkha contingent has not been showered with the same praises that have been lavished on Subas Gurung - their speediest runner - probably because their times are nothing to shout about. So there's very little likelihood of the Gurkha force outrunning the likes of Soh Rui Yong.

The Gurkhas are known for their combative prowess rather than their athletic prowess. They're mostly in good physical condition, trained to face danger as it presents itself. And it is because of their combative attitude, loyalty to their pay master and readiness to protect and guard establishments that nations such as SG and HK love to hire these mercenaries from Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.

A sub-7-minute run is the only time that matters. On current form and times, the race is a toss-up between Soh and Subas. Those whose best runs are above 7 minutes hardly come into the reckoning, and there's no lack of such "second stringers" in the large field of over 2,000 paricipants. Beware of the self-proclaimed and the so-called sub-7 dark horses, though. We can't discount the possibility of them springing a major upset.