KUCHING, Aug 28: Mark your calendars and tighten your laces because the highly anticipated Kuching Marathon 2023 (KM2023) will take place on Oct 1 at Padang Merdeka, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg here, where the marathon will be flagged off, transforming the streets into a sea of passion, determination, and unity.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stated that KM2023 is the eighth series of the Kuching Marathon.
Six categories are open for participation, namely 42KM open (men and women), 42KM veteran (men and women), 21KM open (men and women), 21KM veteran (men and women), 10KM open (men and women), and 5KM open (men and women).
“KM2023 is the eighth series of the Kuching Marathon, which was inaugurated on August 17, 2014, and is an international marathon recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
“With this recognition, the Kuching Marathon is elevated to a new level, equal to all other international marathons held worldwide, whether in Boston, Tokyo, or Hong Kong, among others.
“In Malaysia, there are currently five international marathons, or marathons recognised by AIMS, and two of those five are in Sarawak, which we are very proud of,” Abdul Karim said during a press conference on KM2023 held today at Baitul Makmur II, Petra Jaya, here.
He went on to say that international marathons in Malaysia include the Kota Kinabalu City Half Marathon, the Penang Bridge International Marathon, the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon, the Kuching Marathon, and the most recent addition, the Miri Marathon.
“Hopefully, another new marathon will be held in Sarawak by next year. The Bintulu International Marathon 2023, which we recently held, has not yet received that recognition, but they are applying. I hope they get that kind of recognition. When that recognition is given, it will be recognised worldwide,” he added.
In addition, Abdul Karim mentioned that they anticipate approximately 11,000 local, national, and international participants for KM2023.
“As of today, 8,600 people have registered so far. I’m very sure that we should be able to hit that 10,000 or 11,000 by the end of September,” he noted.
Furthermore, the Tourism Minister expressed his delight that these types of running events benefit the tourism industry.
“Those from Sibu, Sri Aman, Bintulu, Sarikei, Miri, and particularly Brunei, will arrive in great numbers. Every time we organise the marathon, many Bruneians will participate.
“We are also getting the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos) to market this event to Singaporeans.
“Those from West Malaysia, Indonesia, whether they are from Kalimantan Barat or Pulau Jawa, some of them will be coming, and of course the Africans, though I’m not sure which group of Africans are coming,” he remarked.
Abdul Karim continued stating that mosques and surau will be marked or listed along the route so that participants can stop for morning prayers, as requested by locals and Bruneians in previous marathons.
On the finisher medals, he remarked that this year’s design is very nice, as it features the Sarawak flag flying atop the tallest flagpole in South East Asia and the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex.
Abdul Karim (centre) and others in a group photo following the press conference on Kuching Marathon 2023 (KM2023) held at Baitul Makmur II, Petra Jaya in Kuching on Aug 28, 2023.
Moreover, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly are offering a 15 per cent discount to KM2023 participants. For Malaysia Airlines, it applies to domestic flights and Singapore flights to Kuching, and for Firefly, it applies to flights from Miri to Kuching, Penang to Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu to Kuching. Firefly will also give the winner two tickets to any Firefly destination.
The promotion selling period will be from Sept 10 to Sept 30, 2023, whereas the travel period will be from Sept 25 to Oct 8, 2023.
Also present at the press conference were MTCP deputy minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, race director Liew Tang Chieh, and others.
For more information on KM2023, visit https://www.marathonkuching.com/. — DayakDaily
KM2023 finisher medals for 42KM, 21KM, 10KM, and 5KM. Photo credit: Kuching Marathon Facebook page