KUALA LUMPUR — The IHH Sky Race officially concluded its expanded two-day format at Menara Merdeka Maybank within the Merdeka 118 Precinct, drawing more than 8,000 participants representing 78 countries across August 22 and 23. Scaling 2,845 steps spanning all 118 floors of the world’s second-tallest building, the mass-participation event set a new national milestone, earning a entry in the Malaysia Book of Records for the Largest Participation in a Towerrunning Event with 7,797 confirmed finishers.
The 2026 edition also marked the launch of a three-year strategic partnership establishing IHH Healthcare Malaysia as the Title Partner and Official Medical Provider for the annual vertical climb.
Ceremonial Launch and Corporate Governance
The ceremonial flag-off at Merdeka 118 was led by a joint delegation of corporate and event executives. Officiating dignitaries included:
- Dr Kamal Amzan, Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare Malaysia
- YM Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad bin Raja Tun Uda, Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB)
- Datuk Ir. Ts. (Dr.) Izwan Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd
- Dr Shuba Srinivasan, Regional CEO (Central) & Corporate Clinical Services, IHH Healthcare Malaysia
- Mr. Jeffrey Ross, Managing Director of Fresh Events Asia and Race Director of The IHH Sky Race
The expanded weekend framework builds directly upon the operational achievements of the 2025 inaugural edition, which previously secured two national records for Highest Towerrunning Race (503 metres) and Most Finishers in a Towerrunning Event (5,602 finishers).
Alongside the primary stair climb, event partner EBENE established an additional record title for the Most Participants in a Sports Recovery Session, mobilizing 1,127 runners into structured post-race recovery programs at the event site.
To ensure participant health across the vertical incline, IHH Healthcare Malaysia deployed more than 200 medical personnel across the stairwell checkpoints and medical stations.
Elite Podiums and International Standards
The competitive elite divisions featured top-ranked vertical runners from the global circuit. In the Men’s Elite category, Japan’s Ryoji Watanabe captured the individual title, completing the 118-floor ascension in a winning time of 15:38. Watanabe narrowly missed the established course record of 15:37 set during the 2025 edition by Malaysian towerrunning champion Soh Wai Ching. Soh finished in second place with a time of 15:48, while Australia’s Mark Bourne claimed third spot on the podium after clocking 16:33.
In the Women’s Elite division, Tea Faber of Croatia secured gold after crossing the 118th-floor finish line in 18:07. Laura Manninen of Finland secured second place with a time of 18:36, followed by Japan’s Yuko Tateishi in third place at 19:35.
Sanctioned officially by the Malaysian Towerrunning Association (MTA), the event maintains strict structural compliance with international vertical racing standards. The status places the Merdeka 118 climb alongside major global circuit fixtures, including the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York, the Shanghai Tower International Vertical Marathon, the Eiffel Tower Vertical Race in Paris, and the Taipei 101 Run Up.
Community Divisions and Festival Precinct
The competition accommodated diverse participant demographics across Individual and Team of 3 formats, drawing a mix of professional athletes, corporate entries, multi-generational families, and novice fitness enthusiasts.
Beyond the staircase challenge, organizers operated the Sky Race Village at the adjacent Stadium Merdeka precinct from August 20 through 23. The four-day public activation included partner exhibition booths, interactive sports games, arts and crafts workshops, artisanal food vendors, and live entertainment stages designed to engage spectators and community members throughout the race weekend.
The IHH Sky Race received official support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) in recognition of its ongoing contribution to international sports tourism and regional destination marketing. Further operational details, official timing breakdowns, and historical results are published via the centralized event portal at theskyrace.com.
