Over 20,000 runners joined the Duyong International Cultural Run 2025 in Melaka, featuring cultural checkpoints and international participation.
MELAKA: More than 20,000 participants enlivened the Duyong International Cultural Run 2025 today.
The event, now in its third edition, started and finished at Fatimah Stadium in Bukit Serindit.
Duyong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem (pic) said participation increased significantly from 10,000 last year.
He noted the event has grown annually since its 2023 inception as a sports tourism attraction.
“This year we also had the participation of approximately 200 autistic children, in addition to the local community and people from outside Melaka,” he told reporters.
The run included about 2,000 international participants from Indonesia.
Mohd Noor Helmy said the event unites people from diverse backgrounds through sportsmanship.
The five-kilometre route was expanded to include areas beyond Duyong, such as Bukit Baru.
Eleven cultural checkpoints featured traditional music and multi-ethnic food offerings.
Organisers provided 500 lucky draw prizes, including an umrah package and a 300-kilogramme cow.
The event was officiated by Melaka Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.
It concluded with a performance by the local rock band XPDC.
