Latest news with #recordBreaking
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ultra-marathon sensation Sunmaya Budha blazes a trail for women to follow
Three days before the Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon in January, Sunmaya Budha was racing against time to reach the city due to visa delays. She was nearly 3,000km away, in Nepal's mountainous Jumla district. She first had to catch a flight from its tiny, weather-dependent airstrip to another city, then to the capital, Kathmandu, and finally onwards to Hong Kong. Advertisement Within 48 hours of landing, however, Budha did not just run the 103km race along the Sai Kung Peninsula and across Hong Kong's forests, beaches and hillsides, but also scored a record-breaking victory . In what sports commentators called 'devastating for her competitors', Budha finished the women's run in 11:11:47, breaking Chinese runner Xiang Fuzhao's 2020 record of 11:28:21. 'I was incredibly happy setting a new record after a few setbacks the previous year,' says Budha, 26, on a warm spring day in Kathmandu. She is rushing again, this time flying to Italy the following day for a training camp, before competing in the Chengdu Trail Race 60km, which she would go on to win. 'It makes me realise the importance of hard work,' she says, 'and that nothing is impossible if you are determined.' Sunmaya Budha during a 2023 Nepal Trail Series run in Kathmandu. Photo: Nepal Trail Series Budha has had an indomitable spirit her entire life. She rebelled against the teen marriage still practised in Nepal's remote villages and revolted against social norms that restrict girls from following their chosen career paths. Budha is now Nepal's fastest woman ultra-marathon trail runner, third in Asia and 13th globally in the female 23-34 age group, according to the International Trail Running Association's performance index, which puts her in the world's top 0.01 per cent in the field. In Hong Kong, where she frequently travels for races, Budha has become a force to be reckoned with. Six of her seven races in 2023 were in the city. She won the North Face 100 Ultra Trail Challenge Hong Kong 100km race and Lantau 50 (27km) in the same week in December, having won the 50k TransLantau race the previous month. She also won another half marathon and two 50k races in March and April that year. Those wins seemed prophetic. Around 2018, Rémi Duchemin from the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Organising Committee said he saw Budha 'winning the world's greatest races in the coming 10-15 years, zero doubt'. Meanwhile, Lithuanian runner Gediminas Grinius described Budha as 'calm, serene and sometimes shy, but on the trails, she is the killer – silent killer'. Advertisement
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai welcomes 7.15m visitors in first 4 months of 2025 as tourism sector powers ahead
Dubai's tourism sector continues its record-breaking momentum in 2025, with the city welcoming 7.15m international overnight visitors between January and April — a 7 per cent year-on-year increase, according to updates shared at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism's (DET) first City Briefing of the year. Held at the Coca-Cola Arena, the bi-annual briefing gathered more than 1,300 stakeholders from the hospitality, aviation, retail, and F&B sectors, along with key government representatives. Issam Kazim, CEO of Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: 'Building on yet another record-breaking performance in 2024, the exceptional results achieved by the industry so far in 2025 is a testament to the resilience and steadfast support of our stakeholders and partners. 'In advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, our focus remains on strengthening the spirit of partnerships, embracing innovation, and creating future-ready experiences that enhance Dubai's position as the world's best city to visit, live and work in. 'As we look ahead to the second half of this year and beyond, we will harness the key elements that have driven the industry's steady growth – a robust and diversified market strategy, a solid collaboration model between the government and private sectors, and global campaigns showcasing the ever-evolving diverse destination offering.' Dubai tourism briefing highlights 7.15m visitors in the first four months of 2025 Follows 18.72m visitors in 2024, the second consecutive year of record growth The city is now the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere More than 70,000 individuals trained in sensory awareness More than 300 hotels participating in the accessibility certification programme Launch of 'MyDubai Communities', a digital platform to promote coexistence Major 2025 campaigns launched: 'Dubai. That's How You Summer' 'Find Your Story' starring Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 Returns The event confirmed the return of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) from June 27 to August 31, structured across three key retail periods: Summer Holiday Offers The Great Summer Sale Back to School DSS 2025 will feature city-wide sales, raffles, cultural shows, and entertainment tailored for residents and tourists alike. MICHELIN Guide expansion The city food scene continues to evolve, with 1,200 new restaurant licences issued in 2024. The fourth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai includes: 119 restaurants across 35 cuisines (+12.3 per cent YoY) 2 restaurants with 3 MICHELIN Stars: FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio 3 restaurants with 2 Stars, 14 with 1 Star, and 22 Bib Gourmand venues 3 restaurants awarded the MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: 'Dubai's vibrant calendar of festivals and events reflects our city's bold vision and boundless ambition – a testament to our commitment to innovation, excellence, and global leadership. 'These world-class experiences are not only a key driver of visitation but also vital to nurturing the pillars of our economy, from retail and hospitality to aviation and business events.'
