SINGAPORE - An untimely case of cramps failed to stop Clement Chow from clinching his first SEA Games medal yesterday.

After capturing the bronze in the men's triathlon, the Singaporean revealed that he had suffered cramps during the 10km run at the Water Sport Complex in Putrajaya.

"I was riding with Nikko (Huelgas) and when it came to the run, it was the first time I actually experienced cramps on a run," he said.

"It was survival mode on the run today, I was fading pretty badly. (So) it's good to hang on for bronze."

Completing the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in 2hr 3min 24sec, the 29-year-old finished behind the Philippines' Huelgas (1:59:30) and John Chicano (2:01:27).

Wille Loo, his compatriot and defending bronze medallist, finished fourth in 2:04:33.

Said Chow: "The plan was gold and silver for us, but on a personal level, it was an improvement from the 2015 Games when I came in fourth."

At the 2015 Games on home soil, a 2:07:30 effort saw him finish behind Loo (2:07:01).

Despite achieving his best ever result, Chow, an auditor with Deloitte, said he would take a wait and see approach with regards to the next edition.

Noting that there is no guarantee that the sport will feature in the 2019 programme, he said: "We saw today that the Philippines are very strong in triathlon, so I'd think there's a good chance that they'll hold triathlons as one of the events.

"I'm a bit older and I've got to balance work and training, so we'll see how it goes."