Kuala Lumpur – The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) is gearing up for its 17th edition on October 4th and 5th, 2025, promising runners a fresh experience in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Organiser Dirigo Events announced a significant four-year renewal of Standard Chartered Malaysia’s title sponsorship, extending their partnership through 2028.
Adding to the excitement, global sportswear giant ASICS and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) have joined as Gold sponsors. The Half Marathon will now be known as the ASICS Half Marathon, with ASICS also becoming the official footwear and apparel partner. The 10km race will be renamed the Pantai KL 10km.
These announcements were made at a press conference held at Stadium Merdeka by Rainer Biemans, Director of Dirigo Events and Project Director of KLSCM, alongside Mak Joon Nien, CEO of Standard Chartered Malaysia; Erica Lam, CEO of Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Regional Chief Executive Officer (Central), IHH Healthcare Malaysia; and Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager, ASICS Malaysia.
A key change for KLSCM 2025 is the relocation of the start and finish points. Due to ongoing upgrading and maintenance work at Dataran Merdeka in the latter half of the year, the races will still start within the Kuala Lumpur city centre and culminate at the iconic Stadium Merdeka.
“We are delighted to be able to continue this synergistic partnership with Standard Chartered for another chapter,” said Biemans. “Our shared values and commitment, along with the growth of running culture in the country, has seen us connect with many running communities over the years, and we look forward to taking Malaysia’s premier running event to even higher levels.”
Mak Joon Nien of Standard Chartered Malaysia echoed this sentiment, stating, “Standard Chartered is proud to extend our title sponsorship of KLSCM for another four years. As we celebrate our 150th anniversary in Malaysia this year, this renewed partnership reflects our enduring commitment to the Marathon’s success as well as the nation – underscoring our promise to be Here For Good.” He also highlighted the opportunity presented by Malaysia assuming the role of ASEAN Chair in 2025 to elevate the nation’s visibility through the marathon.
Standard Chartered Priority Banking clients will also have the opportunity to receive a complimentary running slot by depositing and investing with the bank, and stand a chance to win a trip to the French Riviera.
This year’s KLSCM will also introduce two new exciting race categories: the Run Club Challenge and the State Youth Challenge. The Run Club Challenge is an invitation-only category for Malaysian running clubs, allowing teams of four runners to compete in the Full Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, and Pantai KL 10km. Clubs must meet specific criteria to participate.
The State Youth Challenge aims to engage young Malaysian runners aged 15 to 24 years old, who can represent a Malaysian state of their choice in the Full Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, and Pantai KL 10km. Prize money won in this category will be awarded to the respective state athletics associations to support their youth development programs.
KLSCM 2024 marked significant achievements, with a record number of close to 42,000 participants and the successful implementation of the Medic on the Run programme. The event also surpassed RM1 million in funds raised for charity through the Run For A Reason (RFAR) programme.
The Medic on the Run programme, which provides on-the-go medical assistance to runners, will continue in 2025 with medical professionals equipped with portable AED machines and First Aid Packs running alongside participants.
The KLSCM remains committed to its Run For A Reason (RFAR) charity initiative, which has facilitated the raising of close to RM9 million to date for various deserving charities. The beneficiary charities for KLSCM 2025 are Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, Hospis Malaysia, Kechara Soup Kitchen, and Teach for Malaysia.
Registration for KLSCM 2025 opens today, April 17th, with priority registration for past participants and faster runners running until April 21st. Public registration will then open on April 22nd and close on July 31st, or when race slots are sold out. Sign-ups for RFAR and the Corporate Challenge will also run from April 17th to July 31st.
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KLSCM is also continuing its efforts towards sustainability, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint and waste through initiatives like refillable water bottles and composting fruit waste.
Returning as official partners for KLSCM 2025 are 100 Plus, Counterpain, High 5 Nutrition, Seiko, and TudungPeople. The event is also supported by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Malaysia Athletics, the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Police.
Interested participants can contact the KLSCM 2025 Help Team at. For more information, visit www.kl-marathon.com/ or their social media pages.
