Latest news with #Merdeka118

Wai Ching targets sub-16-minute climb at Merdeka 118 Sky Race

The Sun

3 hours ago

Sport
The Sun

Wai Ching targets sub-16-minute climb at Merdeka 118 Sky Race

KUALA LUMPUR: National tower run ace Soh Wai Ching is bent on conquering the world's second-tallest tower, the Merdeka 118, in under 16 minutes at the inaugural The Sky Race on Aug 30. He is confident that competing on home ground and having had the opportunity to train climbing up Malaysia's tallest skyscraper several times would give him an added advantage. The 30-year-old admits that climbing the 2,845 steps, coupled with the unique structure of the Merdeka 118 building, is something he has never experienced before, making the ascent physically and mentally more challenging. 'The stairs at Merdeka 118 are unusual. I don't want to divulge too much information; let it be a surprise for the other competitors. 'But what I can say is that this is one of the most challenging climbs I've endured,' he told reporters after the official launch of The Sky Race at Merdeka Stadium here today. After this race, Wai Ching will switch his focus to try to win the race up the Shanghai Tower in China in November. He said the race up the world's third-tallest tower would be his best opportunity to wrest back the world number one ranking currently held by Japan's Ryoji Watanabe. Meanwhile, race director Jeffrey Ross said 4,100 participants from 31 countries have, so far, registered for The Sky Race. Ross, pleased with the overwhelming response, hopes they will reach their target of 5,000 participants before registration closes in 10 days. 'Overall, about 80 per cent of the participants are Malaysians... I can also confirm that most of the (world's) top 20 runners will be competing. 'This isn't just a race, it's a gateway to an unparalleled experience where you'll be rewarded with the most breathtaking panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline,' he said. - Bernama

The Sky Race: Wai Ching Aims To Conquer Merdeka 118 In Under 16 Minutes

Barnama

4 hours ago

Sport
Barnama

The Sky Race: Wai Ching Aims To Conquer Merdeka 118 In Under 16 Minutes

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 -- National tower run ace Soh Wai Ching is bent on conquering the world's second-tallest tower, the Merdeka 118, in under 16 minutes at the inaugural The Sky Race on Aug 30. He is confident that competing on home ground and having had the opportunity to train climbing up Malaysia's tallest skyscraper several times would give him an added advantage. The 30-year-old admits that climbing the 2,845 steps, coupled with the unique structure of the Merdeka 118 building, is something he has never experienced before, making the ascent physically and mentally more challenging. bootstrap slideshow "The stairs at Merdeka 118 are unusual. I don't want to divulge too much information; let it be a surprise for the other competitors. "But what I can say is that this is one of the most challenging climbs I've endured,' he told reporters after the official launch of The Sky Race at Merdeka Stadium here today. After this race, Wai Ching will switch his focus to try to win the race up the Shanghai Tower in China in November. He said the race up the world's third-tallest tower would be his best opportunity to wrest back the world number one ranking currently held by Japan's Ryoji Watanabe. Meanwhile, race director Jeffrey Ross said 4,100 participants from 31 countries have, so far, registered for The Sky Race. Ross, pleased with the overwhelming response, hopes they will reach their target of 5,000 participants before registration closes in 10 days.

[Watch] 2,845 Steps To The Top: Inside Malaysia's Record-Breaking Tower Challenge

Rakyat Post

5 hours ago

Sport
Rakyat Post

[Watch] 2,845 Steps To The Top: Inside Malaysia's Record-Breaking Tower Challenge

Subscribe to our FREE Get ready for the ultimate stair-climbing challenge! For the first time ever, the public will get access to the breathtaking view from the very top of Merdeka 118 – but there's a catch: you'll have to climb 2,845 steps to get there. What makes this special? 'You'll experience the best view in Kuala Lumpur, where few people in the world have ever been,' said Jeffrey Ross, General Manager of Fresh Events Asia, the organiser behind The Sky Race. Ready to make history: The Sky Race organising team, together with representatives from Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and Malaysia Towerrunning Association (MTA) pose with official event t-shirts beneath Merdeka 118, where 5,000 international climbers will soon tackle 2,845 steps for exclusive access to the world's tallest building's summit on 30 August. (Pix: Fernando Fong) The Sky Race marks the first time the world's tallest building will open its summit to tower runners. The numbers that matter: 5,000 participants from over 30 countries expected 2,845 steps to climb (but you get to take the lift down!) 60-90 minutes climbing time for most people 4,100 participants already registered RM159 for individual entry, RM499 for team of three How It Works Participants start every 10 seconds in a No need to worry about cutoff times – whether you're a speed demon or prefer a leisurely climb, there's space for everyone. You can join solo or form a team of three. Here's the relief – 'you don't have to climb back down, that's the good news,' the organiser confirms. Many participants have already emailed asking 'can we take the lift to go up?' – sorry, that's not how it works! But the lift ride down is included. Training Ground for Champions Ravinder Singh, president of MTA, calls it 'the biggest tower run in the world in 2025.' He predicts top international athletes will flock here. Anyone who wants to do well in the world championships will come here, so the top runners will be here for the Sky Race. With Malaysia given the first right to host the Towerrunning World Championships next year, this will be the perfect opportunity for top runners to try out Merdeka 118. For those looking to prepare for this epic challenge, MTA runs regular training sessions every Saturday from 5:30-7:00 PM at the 25-storey Menara MBPJ in Petaling Jaya. These sessions offer the perfect opportunity to build your stair climbing fitness in a supportive community environment, including Malaysia's own tower running star, Soh Wai Ching. The training promotes multiple benefits: Best cardio workout for reducing body fat and burning calories Lower risk of heart disease and stroke Build muscles in legs, core, and glutes Super-charge your fitness in just 20 minutes Local Hero's Home Advantage Soh, currently ranked 2nd in the world for vertical mile stair climbing (tower running), sees the Sky Race as his golden opportunity to reclaim the top spot. The event will play a pivotal role in the Food poisoning severely affected his performance and prevented him from setting a personal best or competing for the win. Now back on home turf and fresh off a Guiness World Record, Soh is confident about his chances against current world number one Home ground will give me advantage over my opponents. I've already checked out the stairs at Merdeka 118, hence added advantage. I rate my chances at 90 percent. His winning strategy is psychological warfare: 'Once I can see my opponent in sight during the run, I will likely win.' With redemption on his mind and familiar territory under his feet, this could be the perfect stage for Malaysia's tower running champion to prove he belongs back at the top of the world rankings. Home advantage: Malaysia's world-ranked tower runner Soh Wai Ching displays The Sky Race shirt, confident about his 90% chance of reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking on familiar territory at Merdeka 118. (Pix: Fernando Fong) What's In It For You This isn't just another weekend workout – you're getting exclusive access to Level 118 viewpoint, literally where few people in the world have ever been! Imagine the bragging rights of conquering the world's tallest building while being part of the biggest tower run in 2025. The best part? There's no pressure with no cutoff time, so you can climb at your own pace. And once you've conquered those 2,845 steps, you get to take the lift down – your legs will definitely thank you for that! The Sky Race takes place on Saturday, 30 August. Ready to join 5,000 climbers from 30+ countries? Your legs might hate you for 90 minutes, but the view and bragging rights will last forever. Almost there: Floor 116 marks the final stretch for Sky Race participants climbing toward the exclusive Level 118 viewpoint – a destination few people in the world have ever reached. (Pix: Fernando Fong) The reward: This breathtaking panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur from the top of Merdeka 118 awaits those who complete The Sky Race – a vista that few people in the world have ever experienced. (Pix: Fernando Fong) Training ground: The towering architecture that challenges Malaysia's elite stair climbers, preparing them for the ultimate test at The Sky Race on 30 August. (Pix: Fernando Fong) Touching the sky: Merdeka 118 pierces through the clouds, symbolizing the sky-high challenge awaiting participants who will climb 2,845 steps for exclusive access to Level 118's unparalleled views. (Pix: Fernando Fong) Bird's eye view: The iconic Merdeka Stadium lies far below as seen from the upper floors of Merdeka 118. This stunning aerial vista of Kuala Lumpur's historic stadium and surrounding cityscape represents the rewarding view that competitors will experience after their grueling vertical marathon up Malaysia's architectural crown jewel.' (Pix: Fernando Fong) Rising above the rest: Merdeka 118 dominates the Kuala Lumpur skyline as the world's second tallest building in the world, soon to welcome 5,000 tower runners for the biggest stair-climbing challenge of 2025. (Pix: Fernando Fong) READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

These Asian cities have more skyscrapers than NYC – here's the full ranking

Time Out

a day ago

General
Time Out

These Asian cities have more skyscrapers than NYC – here's the full ranking

New York City is undeniably a land of towering skyscrapers, but cities in Asia are quickly taking the lead. Let's just say that megacities in China and Southeast Asia are reaching for the clouds faster than you can say "penthouse views". According to the latest numbers from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, seven out of the top ten cities with the most skyscrapers are right here in Asia. Coming in hot at number one is – surprise, surprise – Hong Kong. This sky-high city boasts more than 550 completed skyscrapers, rising from some pretty challenging and hilly terrain. With limited land and soaring demand for space, Hong Kong has been building upwards for decades, and we daresay the skyline here isn't just iconic, it's unstoppable. In second place is China's tech powerhouse, Shenzhen. It has more than 380 skyscrapers today, a real feat considering it was just a sleepy fishing village in the 1970s. Head to the city's Luohu, Futian, and Nanshan districts to see the highest concentration of skyscrapers in one place. Hong Kong and Shenzhen stand head and shoulders above the rest (even beating out skyscraper haven NYC in third place), but other Asian cities also stand tall. Guangzhou has the fifth-most skyscrapers in the world, followed by Shanghai (home to the world's third-tallest building, the Shanghai Tower), Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur (now with the second-tallest building on the planet, the Merdeka 118), and Wuhan. This ranking only counts buildings over 150 metres – which is around 40 storeys minimum. So no, your condominium probably doesn't count. Either way, if you want to see the future of urban design – stacked, sleek, and sky-bound – Asia's your best bet. Cities with the most skyscrapers in the world: Hong Kong Shenzhen, China New York City, United States Dubai, United Arab Emirates Guangzhou, China Shanghai, China Tokyo, Japan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Chicago, United States Wuhan, China

Wai Ching smashes stair-climb world record

New Straits Times

19-07-2025

Sport
New Straits Times

Wai Ching smashes stair-climb world record

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's Soh Wai Ching smashed a Guinness World Record in a gruelling one-hour stair climb machine challenge at a shopping mall here today. The famed tower runner set a new world mark (1.78km) for the farthest simulated distance climb on a stair machine in one hour. It surpassed the previous record of 1.74km set by Britain's David Mahoney in May. Amid a display of great endurance and mental strength, Wai Ching completed the feat without holding the machine's handrails. "I don't hold the rails. That's my principle. Even though it's allowed, holding the handrails feels like cheating," he said. Wai Ching was also awarded with four Malaysia Book of Records awards for his achievements today. He clocked the fastest time in climbing the equivalent height of the Petronas Twin Towers (451.9m) in 14 minutes and 46 seconds, then "ran across" virtual landmarks including Merdeka 118 (680.5m) in 22 minutes and 18 seconds, and completed a vertical kilometre climb in 33 minutes and 11 seconds. For Wai Ching, the challenge was deeply personal. "After becoming a world champion, I lost my goal. I lost the fire to pursue greatness," he admitted. "I even asked myself — maybe I should retire. But this world record attempt was about challenging human limits. I wanted to see how far I could go." That challenge was tested when a severe cramp struck with eight minutes remaining. "I really shouted many times, I felt like quitting. But I just had to hang on, believe I could do it, and push," he said. Wai Ching's other challenges for the year are the Kuantan 188 Towerton at Menara Kuantan next Saturday and the Merdeka 118 Sky Race, the Asia Oceania Championship in August. "My main goal is to defend our home turf — not let anyone else win because it's in Malaysia," he said. Fellow tower runner Valerie Sarah Ong also entered the Malaysia Book of Records today. Valerie set a new national women's record for the Longest Vertical Climb (1.33km) on a stair climb machine in one hour. "The most difficult part was the mental challenge," said Valerie. "Even though my body could still move, my mind kept asking me to stop. It took a lot of mental grit and self-talk to keep going."