POWERMAN MALAYSIA 2026 SET TO ELEVATE GLOBAL RACE EXPERIENCE

By Norhayati Mohd Akhir

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Powerman Malaysia continues to stand out as one of the most distinctive races on the global circuit, driven by its strong atmosphere, energy and well-organised race experience that attracts athletes from around the world.

International Powerman Association President John Raadschelders said Malaysia offers a unique environment that makes the event special for participants, both competitively and emotionally.

“It’s true atmosphere. It’s hard to explain how it feels to come into Malaysia. It’s different — we have the energy here. It’s exciting, the way people are prepared, how they meet each other, and how they push themselves,” he told Bernama after the Powerman Malaysia launching ceremony recently.

He said the race environment in Malaysia allows athletes to focus on their performance without unnecessary stress or logistical concerns.

“Everything is well prepared. Everything is well organised. We prepare the race, and the people ensure that they can realise their best effort,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of Unikorn Events Sdn Bhd, Niklas Yong, said the organiser is grateful for the opportunity to host Powerman Malaysia for the next three years.

Elaborating on the main objective, he said the event aims to be elevated to the next level, not only for athletes but also for spectators, supporters, friends and family.

Niklas said Powerman Malaysia 2026 will feature improvements in race quality, safety and spectator engagement.

“Elite categories have always been part of the heart of Powerman, because we bring in international standards and international participants from all over the world,” he said.

“And for 2026, we will be introducing five-year age categories across both Classic and Short distances. This will allow participants to compete on a more level playing field and encourage performance across the board,” he said, adding that the organiser is targeting around 4,500 to 5,000 participants, with fees to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) Deputy Director of Sports and Recreation, Mohamad Sujairi Ishak, said Powerman Malaysia is one of Putrajaya’s signature events, receiving full support from PPj every year.

“PPj provides facilities and infrastructure to support the needs of the event, in addition to involving the Putrajaya community, including volunteers, to participate directly in the event.

“The event also opens up opportunities for the socio-economic sector in Putrajaya, such as the hotel and food and beverage industries, which can help enhance Putrajaya’s image and name globally,” he said.

Mohamad Sujairi said that PPj is also working closely with the organisers in the area of sports development, including through the Powerman Malaysia Clinic, which provides exposure not only to new participants but also to the Putrajaya community.

He said the main objective is to ensure that the event is not merely a stopover for Powerman Malaysia athletes, but also serves to attract the Putrajaya community to take part in extreme sports and adopt an active lifestyle.

Powerman Malaysia 2026, the internationally recognised run–bike–run event, is scheduled to take place from Sept 18 to 20, 2026 at Dataran Putrajaya, and is expected to attract elite and amateur duathletes from across the region and around the world.

Unikorn Events Sdn Bhd was announced as the new licence holder and organiser of Powerman Malaysia, while PPj was appointed as the venue sponsor, with Putrajaya officially designated as “Powerman City”.

-- BERNAMA