Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 2025: Malaysian Runners Shine Amid Kenyan Dominance

Over 41,000 Runners Brave Humid Conditions in Malaysia’s Premier Road Race

The lead pack for the men's marathon. PHOTO: BUKAN RUN CLUB

The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2025 concluded with remarkable performances that highlighted both international excellence and local resilience.

Held over the weekend of 4-5 October at the iconic Merdeka Stadium, this year’s edition tested runners with a challenging route and humid conditions, yet still delivered inspiring victories for Malaysian and regional athletes.

Over 41,000 participants took part over 2 days in the KLSCM2025. PHOTO: KLSCM

Record Participation Across Categories

This year’s KLSCM saw an impressive turnout with over 41,000 participants across six categories: Full Marathon (12,147), Half Marathon (13,035), 10KM (10,870), 5KM (4,527), Kids Dash 2KM (235), and Kids Dash 400M (245).

The sheer number of runners underscored the marathon’s reputation as Malaysia’s largest mass participation sporting event and one of Southeast Asia’s most celebrated races.

Yeow Nijia and Michelle Chua topped the Marathon Open categories for men's and women's. PHOTO: BERNAMA PIC

Malaysian Heroes: Yeow Ni Jia and Michelle Chua

Among the standout achievements, Yeow Ni Jia and Michelle Chua Khit Yeng emerged as the top Malaysian finishers in the Full Marathon Open categories. Yeow clocked an impressive 2:36:13, outperforming Tan Huong Leong (2:37:05) and 2024 champion Muhaizar Mohamad (2:44:37). For the women’s division, Chua crossed the finish line at 3:05:40, ahead of Noor Amelia Musa (3:09:03) and Lee Siok Chin (3:11:07).

At just 25 years old, Yeow Ni Jia, a software engineer, reflected on the demanding course and the mental challenge of the race’s new finishing point at Merdeka Stadium. Despite the tougher conditions, he expressed satisfaction with achieving his goals and saw the win as a valuable benchmark for his athletic development.

Michelle Chua en route to her Marathon win. PHOTO: BUKAN RUN CLUB

Key Performances from ASICS Athletes

The 2025 edition also saw stellar podium finishes from regional ASICS athletes across multiple categories:

• Full Marathon Malaysian Women’s Open: 1st place – Michelle Chua (Malaysia), 3rd place – Tiffany Lee (Malaysia)

• Half Marathon Men’s Open: 2nd place – Pilon, 3rd place – Subas Gurung (Nepal)

• Half Marathon Men’s Veteran: 1st place – Melvin Wong (Singapore)

• Half Marathon Malaysian Men’s Open: 3rd place – Syakir Alwi (Singapore)

• Half Marathon Women’s Open: 3rd place – Earn (Thailand)

• Half Marathon Women’s Veteran: 1st place – Rachel See (Singapore)

• Half Marathon Malaysian Women’s Open: 3rd place – Melissa Lua (Malaysia)

  
  

• Men’s 10KM: 1st place – Sonny Wagdos (Philippines), 3rd place – Daren James Nair (Malaysia), 4th place – Asyhraf Zaidin (Malaysia)

• Women’s 10KM: 1st place – Joida Gagnao (Philippines)

Melvin Wong (centre) finishes first in the Men's Veterans category for the 21.1km. PHOTO: KLSCM2025

These achievements not only reflect individual dedication but also highlight ASICS’ growing impact in nurturing and supporting Malaysia and Southeast Asia's long-distance running talent.

Kenyan Runners Dominate the International Stage

While local runners stole the spotlight for Malaysian fans, the overall race was once again dominated by Kenya’s world-class athletes, reinforcing their long-standing reputation in distance running.

Their commanding performances set the pace and underscored the global competitiveness of the KLSCM.

Key members of ASICS Running Club from across the region, after a shakeout run held at KLCC Park on Friday evening. PHOTO: TOIFILMS

A More Demanding Route

Runners noted that the 2025 route was more grueling than in previous years. With rolling hills and higher humidity, endurance and mental strength were pushed to the limits. The shift in the finishing line location from Dataran Merdeka to Merdeka Stadium added an unexpected psychological hurdle. As Yeow described, the final kilometres felt “torturous” but ultimately rewarding.

Thai athletes at the KLSCM 2025. PHOTO: BUKAN RUN CLUB

KLSCM as a Premier Running Event in Southeast Asia

The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon continues to grow as one of Southeast Asia’s premier road races, attracting elite international runners and fostering local talent. The 2025 edition once again proved to be more than just a sporting event—it was a celebration of resilience, determination, and community spirit.

As the cheers at Merdeka Stadium fade, the memories of this year’s race set the stage for an even more competitive 2026 edition. For Malaysia, the achievements of Yeow Ni Jia and Michelle Chua signal a bright future in long-distance running and inspire the next generation of athletes to push beyond limits. #KLSCM2025 #ASICSRunning