80 days to 3rd Kuching Marathon

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A file photo of Kuching Marathon 2015 which attracted over 7,500 participants.

A file photo of Kuching Marathon 2015 which attracted over 7,500 participants.

KUCHING: It’s 80 days to the third edition with Kuching Marathon 2016 poised to be the biggest ever marathon event not only in the city but also the state as well.

According to event director Liew Tang Chieh, more than 10,000 participants are expected to set off from Padang Merdeka in the heart of the city on August 14 2016.

The inaugural event already attracted over 4,500 in 2014. Last year, the number of participants jumped by 65 per cent to 7,500 for the 2nd edition.

In comparison, only about 800 runners took part in the Sarawak Marathon in Bintulu last year.

Liew told The Borneo Post that the event is already a proven winner in boosting the local sports tourism industry.

Out of 7,500 in 2015, over 30 per cent or 2,264 were non-Sarawakians from the other states and 35 countries including Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Kenya, Britain and the United States.

Feedback from local industry players showed that most hotels and lodging houses in the city area were at full occupancy during the past two marathons.

Organisers The Kuching Marathon Association said the event is set on becoming the biggest annual (non-musical) tourism event in Sarawak with Honda as the main sponsor.

Kuching Marathon 2016 with four races – full marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km – is open for online registration at www.marathonkuching.com.