Stage set for world’s largest obstacle race

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Categories: Carus Sport & Event, News & Media
Abdul Karim (centre) with the race officials at the venue.

KUCHING: Close to 3,000 runners will take part in the Spartan Race 2019 here this weekend.

This is the first time for Sarawak to host the world’s largest obstacle race.

According to Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, 65 per cent of the participants are foreigners, coming from United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore among others.

The minister is pleased with the number of participants for the Oct 19-20 race.

However, he lamented that it could have reach well above 3,000 if not because of the haze that blanketed large parts of the country when the event was promoted overseas.

“I’m glad to note the number of participants coming for the event because we are hosting it for the first time and this will also greatly help our tourism industry,” he told reporters after visiting the race venue at Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service KM20 Kuching-Serian Road yesterday.

He said that he was satisfied with the preparation for the event.

Abdul Karim is also glad to see a strong involvement from the local community here who helped with the preparation, and some were spotted selling souvenirs, which can help them economically.

The Spartan Race is also touted as the best obstacle race in the world.

The Sarawak leg will feature the Sprint (5km), Beast (21km), Ultra (42km) and Hurricane Heat (12 hours), where runners will be mentally and physically challenged over a period of 12 hours non-stop.

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