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TAWAU: The Tawau Runner’s Club (Tawau Runner’s) is optimistic about making the Tawau Marathon an annual event to promote the district as a sports tourism destination in Sabah.

Its Chairman, Dulmi Mular said they are excited after successfully organising the Tawau Marathon 2024 event for the first time this year, attracting the participation of international runners. 

Dulmi

According to him, at the beginning of the establishment of the club, they only started by organising five and 10-kilometre (km) fun runs and half marathon (21km) events before organising a full marathon event.

“We are very excited when this inaugural full marathon event received strong support from local and international participants,” he said when met at the Tawau Marathon 2024 opening ceremony at the Tawau town field, on Sunday.

Sabah’s Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship who is also the Kalabakan MP, Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy was present to inaugurate the programme.

He praised the organisation of the running event which has created history for the Tawau district and will suggest to the Sabah Tourism Board to include the Tawau Marathon running event in the Sabah Tourism Calendar.

“We will improve the organisation of this running event as a brand or sports tourism product in the future with the support of all parties involved,” he said.

More than 2,000 participants including from 15 foreign countries competed in four categories 42km (Full Marathon) 21km (Half Marathon) and Fun Run 10km and 5km.

A mountain guide, Wilson Singgin, topped the Open Men’s category with a time of 3 hours and 13 minutes, while the Open Women’s category was won by Vietnamese participant, Cahg Nong (3 hours, 25 minutes).

Meanwhile, Kenyan runner Denis Isika emerged as the fastest runner for the 42km Veteran Men category with a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and for the 42km veteran women category, it was won by Vietnamese runner Hien Ngu Yen (3 hours, 30 minutes). ­