Ciren Cuomu Heads to the Nagoya Asian Games Carrying Unfulfilled…

At the end of August, Nyingchi. On a 3,000 m high plateau.

I met three Tibet team members who often appear in road running. Among them, two broke the 2:10 barrier at this year’s Wuxi Marathon,Suolang Cairen and Tashi Tsering (senior) ran 2:08:22 and 2:09:43, respectively.And another, at the Quzhou Athletics Championships in July,Zhaxi Ciren, who, after 3 years, set a new PB in the 3000-meter steeplechase and won the title.

Compared with road runners from other provinces and cities, we don’t get many chances to talk with Tibet team members. But during those days, we talked about results, their pasts, and Coach Gesang, who to them is like a father.

By the end of the conversation, they all mentioned the same name—Ciren Cuomu, about to head to the Nagoya Asian Games.

Suolang Cairen: From 2:14 to 2:08, confidence is earned through running.

In 2024, the Tibet team went to Ethiopia for an overseas training camp. At that time, Suolang Cairen, Zhaxi Ciren and others accompanied the squad. The training during those days was intense.and beyond the day‑after‑day high intensity, constant travel became routine. Before and after every training session they had to take 2–3 hour bus rides.

In the athletes’ words, during that period, besides training and resting, they were just on buses. At that time 索朗才仁’s marathon was still over 2:14. Looking back at the footage in Ethiopia, he said his feelings were complicated — bittersweet, and also proud of himself.

Later, due to various factors, the Tibet team no longer trained in Africa; Nyingchi and Lhasa became their regular training bases. 索朗才仁 also progressed step by step from 2:14 to 2:12 in Seoul 2025, and then at this year’s Wuxi he not only broke 2:10 but ran 2:08.

This young man who once thought 2:10 was far away has gained confidence and expectations for the future from his progress; he has set his next target at 2:07,which he believes can be achieved through his own effort and dedication. “Now I have grown in confidence.”

Suolang said, "Throughout this journey,"what he is most grateful for is Coach Gesang’s help: “I am an orphan; the coach has been both mother and father, taking care of us like children.” It is precisely this long companionship that kept him from feeling alone on the team.

Although everyone is putting energy into social platforms, the young man 索朗才仁 — who freely dances when listening to Tibetan music — still chooses to focus on training seriously, he said,“An athlete’s core competitiveness is their results. I don’t care about outside opinions; I just want to be myself.”

When asked about Ciren Cuomu, who is about to head to Nagoya, Suolang Cairen said:，“I hope she can finish in the top three, even fight for first or second. She’s representing Tibet — I wish her a very strong result.”

Xiao Zhaxi Ciren aims to break a record next year.

Unlike Suolang Cairen's style, Xiao Zhaxi Ciren is relatively outgoing. Outside of training he likes to share videos of his dancing on social media, and everyone jokingly calls him the "Tibetan Dance King." In response, he said there is a saying:“In Tibet, those who can speak can sing; those who can walk can dance.”

Having played football since childhood, he still follows the sport and supports the Samba squad; his favorite player is Neymar.

Xiao Zhaxi Ciren once represented his country; at the Hangzhou Asian Games three years ago, he competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000 meters.setting a PB in the 3000 m steeplechase and finishing seventh. Those two races won him countless fans and were highlights of his career.

Six months after the Asian Games,he went to 仁寿 and recorded the best half-marathon performance in the country.

After a hiatus, Xiao Zhaxi Ciren began his journey of reflection, having endured unexpected trials such as ankle sprains at Renshou and at the Yangzhou Half Marathon.he finally won the championship at the July Quzhou meet by setting a new PB in the 3000 m steeplechase.He had waited three years for that PB.

小扎西 said, “A full three years — this result proves I’m improving and my form is returning. Although young athletes keep emerging within the team, and competitors from other provinces and cities are getting stronger,”

as a former national half-marathon record holder, 扎西次仁 feels his peak as a track athlete is still ahead and he must seize this opportunity.“Like building a house: first lay a solid foundation, then move on to the marathon. At the latest I’ll switch to the marathon the year after next.”

And before switching to the marathon, Zhaxi Ciren firmly believed that as long as he remained injury-free during this winter's training,he’s confident he can break another record next year — whether that’s in the half marathon, the 3000 m steeplechase, or the 5000 m or 10,000 m, he said everyone should just wait and see.

Tashi Ciren said, "I failed in my second Asian Games, I hope..."that Chinese athletics is getting better and the gap with the rest of Asia is narrowing.”This is also my personal wish.

The disappointment of Da Zhaxi Ciren being a substitute can only be made up by his senior teammate.

On the Tibet team, Da Zhaxi Ciren also has a nickname — "Nanjing." That's because in 2021 he mistakenly filled out his college-choice form, which led to a period of studying in Nanjing. It was Coach Gesang who brought him back from Nanjing to the Tibet team, and only then did his formal road-running training begin.

Two years ago, 大扎西 set a full-marathon goal for himself of “under 2 hours 11 minutes.” This year in Wuxi, he left that target behind and pushed himself to the edge of 209. “For us Chinese runners, 210 is a very important benchmark. Now I’m more confident.”

Speaking about the next step,he said that once he breaks 209, he’ll pursue a bigger breakthrough.Coach Gesang often kept repeating one phrase to him:“You must first dare to imagine it; whether it becomes reality is another matter, but you must dare to imagine.”

Since beginning his studies, 大扎西次仁 has practiced Tibetan calligraphy; copying model books has become a quiet outlet outside his training. He says writing is a way of cultivating his mind,“Running is monotonous; writing cultivates the mind. When I haven’t held up to the intensity or I’m in a bad mood, I write—calm down and then think about why I couldn’t hold up today, and the reasons become clear.”

The regret 大扎 left at the Lanzhou Marathon made him a substitute for the Nagoya Asian Games and left him unable to go. Speaking about teammate 次仁措姆, who is about to head to Nagoya, he said she carries the shared dreams of many of us.

Born in 1997, 次仁措姆 already has experience competing for the country. At last year’s World Championships in Tokyo she fought to the end, finishing 14th—the best result among Chinese women. In Coach 格桑’s eyes, his discipleCiren Cuomu has long had the ability to run 2:26; she is simply waiting for a race of her own.

On September 26, Ciren Cuomu ran not only for herself and for the Tibet team, but also for Chinese marathon running.This Tibetan young woman, who regards “representing the country” as the highest honor, carries many people’s expectations and blessings as she heads to Nagoya.

[End-of-article interaction]

#What are your expectations for Ren Cuomu's performance at the Asian Games?#

Writer/Editor: Momo/Cia

Image source: Paoye Dabaozha

Visuals: Max

RUNYEAH 跑野大爆炸

Ciren Cuomu Heads to the Nagoya Asian Games Carrying Unfulfilled Dreams and Blessings