Kota Kinabalu: The Asia Triathlon Cup will be making a long awaited return to Sabah’s shore after a 22-year-lapse on November 11.
Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew in a press conference held at her office on Monday expressed her excitement about Kota Kinabalu city playing host to the prestigious event.
“The return of the Asia Triathlon Cup after 22 years to Sabah is a testament to the region’s growing prominence in the world of triathlon and sports tourism.
“With our stunning natural landscapes and warm hospitality, Sabah is poised to once again leave an indelible mark on the global triathlon community.
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The last time Sabah hosted the Asia Triathlon Cup was during the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) Triathlon Asian Championships back in 2001.
Some 120 elite athletes are set to participate in the open category this year with an additional 1,000 taking part in the other categories.
Liew hopes to draw a diverse and talented field of athletes from across Asia and beyond by offering them a challenging and exhilarating competition experience.
“This memorable return signifies Sabah’s enduring commitment to the sport of triathlon and its standing as a premier sports destination in the region,” she added.
The event organised by XMultisport Event is scheduled to take place at Prince Philip Park, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu.
Malaysia Triathlon Association president Tony Tan Beng Hong who was present said XMultisport Event was given the task to organise the event as the result of their success in staging the Labuan Triathlon last year.
“We have full confidence in appointing XMultisport Event to organise the Asia Triathlon Cup sanctioned by World Triathlon.
“What makes this occasion even more special is the seamless connection between the KKCity XMultisport Challenge and the Asia Triathlon Cup.
“Every participant in the KKCity XMultisport Challenge’s Triathlon will automatically advance to the esteemed Asia Triathlon Cup, creating an exciting bridge between the local and international triathlon communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the KKCity XMultisport Challenge Duathlon will be held the following morning (November 12) followed by the SESB 3.5km Neon Night Run in the evening.
All registered participants for any event in the KKCity XMultisport 2023 are also eligible to win lucky draw prizes worth RM30,000 and the grand prize is a brand new Perodua Axia 2023 1.0 X (CVT).
Registration for all races is still open until October 16 and further information can be obtained by logging in to www.xmultisport.com.
Also present at the press conference were the Ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Yusrie Abdullah, race director Auther J. Kimon and event director Ahmad Syuaib Nasir.
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