Maybank Marathon Eyes Bigger 2027 Edition After Successful Bali Race

By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

BALI, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The 15th edition of the Maybank Marathon – Indonesia’s first World Athletics Elite Label Road Race – concluded successfully in Bali on Sunday with 14,100 runners from 46 countries.

Maybank Indonesia President Director Steffano Ridwan confirmed that the marathon would return to Bali next year, saying the challenge was to make the event bigger and more attractive while maintaining the quality that had distinguished it over the years.

“One of the things that perhaps differentiates Maybank Marathon from other marathons is the consistency of its quality. That is something we have always been committed to and maintained,” he told a media conference after the race.

This year’s Maybank Marathon in Partnership with Visa was held at the Bali United Training Centre in Gianyar. Themed ‘Pace You Forward,’ it featured marathon, half marathon, 10K, and wheelchair categories.

The total prize pool was more than Rp3 billion (1 million Rp=RM228), including Rp260 million for each Marathon Open winner and Rp100 million for each Marathon National winner.

Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau won the men’s Marathon Open category with a time of 2:16:10, while compatriot Veronicah Njeri Maina took the women’s title in 2:37:22.

In the Marathon National category, Indonesians Robi Syianturi and Ina Lydia won the men’s and women’s titles respectively, clocking 2:28:30 and 3:09:55.

Steffano said the annual event went beyond the race to incorporate tourism and sustainability to generate a wider positive impact on the local community and local government. “The most important thing is not just the marathon, but what the marathon leaves behind,” he said.

Meanwhile Maybank Marathon Race Director Bambang Dwi Hartono hinted at a possible expansion of the event’s format in 2027, saying the organisers are assessing whether the event could be staged over more than a day. Bambang argued that extending the event could allow more people to enjoy it.

The organisers are also looking to improve the race pack collection, race village, running course, and entertainment for next year, he said.

Bambang said continuous improvement had been central to the event’s development since its inaugural edition in 2012, helping it attain World Athletics Elite Label Road Race status in 2020 and become one of Indonesia’s leading marathon events.

-- BERNAMA