KUALA LUMPUR, 4 October 2026 – Homegrown endurance talent took center stage at Dataran Merdeka today as the 18th edition of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026 served up thrilling domestic battles and major regional milestones. Doubling as the official preliminary selection event for the 2027 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the race saw Yeow Ni Jia defend his Malaysian men’s full marathon title in personal best fashion, while debutant Esther Joy Chen Hong Li stormed to the women’s crown.
Across the Causeway, Singaporean distance stalwarts made an emphatic statement in the ASICS Half Marathon, with Rachel See and Goh Shing Ling pulling off a commanding 1-2 finish in the Women’s Open.
Yeow Ni Jia Secures Back-to-Back Malaysian Titles in PB Time
In the Malaysian Men’s Full Marathon, 26-year-old Yeow Ni Jia reinforced his standing as the country’s leading marathoner. Navigating Kuala Lumpur's undulating highways and humid morning conditions, Yeow broke the tape in 2:33:52—shaving time off his previous local mark and earning automatic contention for the 2027 SEA Games longlist.
Yeow was pushed all the way by Lai Yi Hng, who delivered a tenacious challenge to take silver in 2:34:16. Two-time SEA Games representative and Malaysian national marathon record holder Tan Huong Leong completed the podium in third with a time of 2:39:17.
“My goal was to secure a podium spot as well as make the SEA Games longlist and of course, defend the title,” said Yeow. “I was hoping to clock below 2:35, and because of the competitive field, I managed to get my local personal best. I will be taking a little break after this to recover from previous injuries.”
Photo: Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon
Esther Joy Chen Shines on Debut with Maiden Marathon Crown
The Malaysian Women’s Full Marathon heralded an exciting breakthrough for 22-year-old middle-distance convert Esther Joy Chen Hong Li. Running her first-ever 42.195 km race, Chen seized top honors in 3:05:22, securing her pathway toward the 2027 SEA Games preliminary selection roster.
Former national rhythmic gymnast Elaine Koon crossed the line in second with 3:12:43, while Lai Wei Ling claimed third place in 3:14:37.
“I decided to give it a shot after hearing about KLSCM being the preliminary selection event for the 2027 SEA Games,” Chen explained. “My coach adapted my training for a marathon block and our strategy was to go big or go home. He gave me a rough pace to follow and my goal was to finish the race. It would have been nice to also clock a sub-3.”
Photo: Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon
Singapore’s Rachel See and Goh Shing Ling Sweep Top Half Marathon Spots
Singaporean runners stole the spotlight in the ASICS Half Marathon Women’s Open, demonstrating remarkable tactical composure against top regional competitors.
Veteran marathoner Rachel See captured first place, crossing the line in 1:22:33 to continue her blistering run of regional form. Fellow Singapore national runner Goh Shing Ling finished strong to claim the silver medal in 1:25:13, outpacing Thailand’s Kawinthida Thadased (1:28:53).
In the ASICS Half Marathon Malaysian Men’s category, Daren James Nair Rodney James took top honors in 1:13:44, followed by Muhamad Asyhraf Mohamad Zaidin (1:14:39) and Wee Hon Gavin Sim (1:15:26). The Malaysian Women’s Half Marathon title went to Nurul Juliana Shakira Abdul Halim in 1:32:36, ahead of Yu Hui Khiing (1:33:08) and Allison Yee Pui Se (1:37:00).
KLSCM 2026 Key Regional Podium Results
| Category | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Malaysian Men's Marathon | Yeow Ni Jia (2:33:52) | Lai Yi Hng (2:34:16) | Tan Huong Leong (2:39:17) |
| Malaysian Women's Marathon | Esther Joy Chen (3:05:22) | Elaine Koon (3:12:43) | Lai Wei Ling (3:14:37) |
| Half Marathon Women's Open | Rachel See (SGP) (1:22:33) | Goh Shing Ling (SGP) (1:25:13) | Kawinthida Thadased (THA) (1:28:53) |
| Half Marathon Malaysian Men | Daren James Nair (1:13:44) | Muhamad Asyhraf (1:14:39) | Wee Hon Gavin Sim (1:15:26) |
| Half Marathon Malaysian Women | Nurul Juliana Shakira (1:32:36) | Yu Hui Khiing (1:33:08) | Allison Yee Pui Se (1:37:00) |
(In the Overall Open divisions, Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi edged defending champion John Nzau Mwangangi in a tight sprint finish to take the Men's Open crown in 2:21:19, while Ethiopia’s Alemitu Ajema Lema won the Women's Open title in 2:39:29.)
Photo: Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon
Record Turnout and World Athletics Elite Label
The 18th staging of KLSCM brought together a record 43,800 participants representing 53 nations across the weekend, with more than 3,600 traveling runners converging on the capital. Retaining its coveted World Athletics Elite Label status, the race underscored Kuala Lumpur’s reputation as Southeast Asia’s marquee road-running festival.
The event’s philanthropic cornerstone, the Run For A Reason (RFAR) initiative, surpassed RM1.1 million in funds raised for beneficiaries including the Standard Chartered Foundation, Hospis Malaysia, Kechara Soup Kitchen, Teach for Malaysia, and the Malaysian Congenital Heart Foundation. Standard Chartered Malaysia continued its uninterrupted 18-year title sponsorship, supported by gold partners ASICS and IHH Healthcare.