Marathon

The 2023 Techcombank Hanoi Marathon will be held on on September 15-17, luring an increasing number of runners to check in many city's landmarks. — Photos of SEV

HÀ NỘI — The second Techcombank Hanoi Marathon will take place on September 15-17, aiming to spread the spirit of Run for a Greater Việt Nam in the capital city.

Around 9,000 local and international athletes will take part, a remarkable increase compared to the 7,000 runners last year.

The marathon will continue to be a prominent sports tourism event of Hà Nội.

The event is organised by Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) with the support of the Hà Nội's Department of Culture and Sports, and the title sponsor Techcombank.

“For many years, Sunrise Events Vietnam has always tried to connect individuals and communities through sports activities. We always appreciate the support of relevant agencies in Hà Nội during our organisation process," said SEV’s CEO Onslo Carrington.

"We are also very proud to accompany our strategic partner Techcombank, as their commitment to supporting the wave of running in Việt Nam through this event is admirable.

"We are confident in promoting this running event to be on par with the largest and most popular tournaments in the region such as the Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore Marathons.”

Runners will compete in four distances of marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km, all certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

About 7,000 runners take part in the first edition of the Techcombank Hanoi Marathon in 2022. — Photo of SEV

Among competitors are many professional athletes, high-performing athletes in the region and the world, such as SEA Games athletic champions Nguyễn Trung Cường, Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phúc, Hoàng Nguyên Thanh, and Nguyễn Thị Oanh.

They will be against international marathoners such as Immaculate Chemutai from Uganda, Koros Chesire and Kipsang Charles Kipkorir from Kenya.

Starting from the Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục Square on September 17, the marathon and half marathon runners will experience 39 unique landmarks of Hà Nội, including Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Hà Nội Opera House, President Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, and Long Biên Bridge.

The distinctive running routes combining tradition and modernity promises to take athletes on an emotional journey where they not only enjoy running but also appreciate the flow of culture of the thousand-year-old capital.

Runners of all distances will finish at the Vinhomes Riverside Long Biên, a high-ranking ecological riverside urban area.

A Kids Run for children aged five to 14 will also be organised, promising an exciting playground for the participants. It is expected to nurture the spirit of sports, cultivating willpower, and fostering the love of running for children from an early age.

In addition, many activities and services from exhibition booths in the Marathon Village will bring athletes and families a lively sports festival where everyone will find a reason to run and a motivation to overcome their limits.

Nguyễn Thị Oanh wins the women's 42km category in the marathon's debut edition. — Photo of SEV

Phạm Xuân Tài, deputy director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, shared his pride when the marathon returned to Hà Nội for the second time as an inspiring activity to promote a healthy and dynamic lifestyle and prove the city's solidarity and resilience.

He said in the future, the Hà Nội would continue to work closely with the organisers to elevate the event, both in terms of scale and quality, into a representative running event of the city, comparable to other races in the region.

"Techcombank is proud and honoured to be the title sponsor for this fantastic event for a second year. Through our support, we aim to bring our 'Be Greater' spirit to life by inspiring people to lead healthier lives and Run for a Greater Việt Nam," said Thái Minh Diễm Tú, CMO of Techcombank.

"By encouraging people to be more active and live more healthily we aim to leave a positive and long-lasting legacy for the city of Hà Nội." — VNS