Tana Rayer
TANA (TANALAKSIUMY MAHENTHIRAN RAYER, 23, PENANG)
National 4x400m Sprinter | Accounting Student | Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 Top 10
23-year old Tanalaksiumy Mahenthiran Rayer of Chinese-Indian heritage; this accounting student and top 10 Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 Finalist demonstrates a Malaysian spirit and style I’d love to see more of! Tana used to run the streets of Brown Gardens, Penang during her childhood, and represented her school Convent Light Street in 100m, 200m and 4x100M. Now, she will run for Malaysia in the lanes at Bukit Jalil National Stadium for the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games 8.50pm Saturday 26 August 2017. If I were her mum, I’d be damn proud too! 🙂 Bangkit Bersama, Team ash be nimble will be standing by you and cheering you on! If you haven’t gotten into SEA Games fever, admission is free for athletics at the National Stadium, just come lah!
Secondly it was because my sister was in Miss World Malaysia 2011 – same batch as Chloe Chen. I went around with her to help her pick accessories and clothing and styled her. I admired her guts to go on stage and be judged and how she deflected people’s comments about her weight. Despite all that she remained herself and didn’t change.
Q: How did you get into running?
A: As kids the main way to escape the house was going out and playing sports. Back in Brown Gardens, Penang, we would be out every evening at 4pm. (I’ve been there for the last 23 years at my grandfather’s place.) I wanted to follow my sister’s footsteps, she was 7 years older and achieving great things in karate, badminton and athletics. She would go away for sports camps and I wanted to go along! I started running for my school CLS Convent Light Street, then I represented the Zone Jelutong district, then moved on to represent my state Penang in 100m, 200m and 4 by 100m. In 2009 I represented Malaysia for the first time in Little Athletics in 100m and 200m which was held in Bukit Jalil.
Q: When was the first time you represented Malaysia in running internationally?
A: My first international event representing Malaysia in 400m was at the ASEAN University Games (AUG) which as held in Singapore. I managed to get into the Finals and came out 5th. I felt really nervous, ‘damn kan jeong’. It was a new event for me as I was used to 100m and 200m, and being outside Malaysia made me even more worried. But I told myself, you’re gonna give your best because your mum came all the way. Don’t disappoint mum!

Q: What do you love about the 400M?
Q: Who is your inspiration?