The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, the city’s biggest sports event, saw a return to its pre-pandemic levels on Sunday, with a total of 74,000 runners taking part in several races. Kenya’s Seroi Anderson Saitoti and Ethiopia’s Medina Armino were the first to cross the finish line in the men and women’s categories, respectively.
Sun Xiao Yang from Mainland China and Hongkonger Choi Yan Yin emerged the winners in the half marathon, while the Mainland’s Chen Yu Fa and Hong Kong’s Tsang Hiu Tung were the first to complete the 10 km race. The event also doubled as the 19th Asian Marathon Championships, for which India’s Man Singh and Mongolia’s Galbadrakh Khishigsaikhan took home the championship titles.
The marathon route traversed Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, taking runners from Nathan Road to the finish line in Victoria Park by way of landmarks like Stonecutters and Ting Kau bridges, and Western Harbour Tunnel. The tracks were lined with onlookers who cheered the runners on with by holding up signs and beating drums.
Film star Chow Yun-fat took part in the half marathon and completed the race in a little over 2 hours and 26 minutes. Financial Secretary Paul Chan came second in the 2 km Legends Cup — a route that took runners from the Wan Chai Sports Ground to Victoria Park, and saw participation from other local politicians and business leaders.
However, the importance of post-run health checks was brought to the fore when a participant in the half marathon collapsed at the Tin Hau MTR station after finishing the race, and passed away at a city hospital. The organisers of the event expressed their condolences at the 30-year-old man’s untimely passing.
Header image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board
