Last year when I received the press release saying that Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships 2016 returns to Malaysia after 2-years of hiatus, I have to check with my bf back then on what is Powerman. Mind you I was not into sports back then. I was not even aware that Powerman has not happen for 2 years and I do not think I know what is Powerman to be precise LOL. I still remember my exact question to him was “are you joining Powerman?” and his reply was Powerman is no longer held in Malaysia since 2 years ago. From last week’s Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships 2017 press conference that I learnt that E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd, the race organizer, rights and license holder flew to the US to pitch for the licence and they got it. Hence the return of Powerman in Malaysia.

2016 set Powerman Malaysia a record-breaking of 2,645 participants, making into the Malaysia Book of Records for the ‘Largest Participation of Duathlon Championships’. And for 2017, the highly anticipated run-bike-run race will return to Putrajaya on Sunday, 5 March 2017 with greater expectation.

Same as last year, athletes are given a choice of four adult categories to participate namely Individual Classic and Team Relay Classic (10km Run – 60km Bike – 10km Run), and Individual Short and Team Relay Short (5km Run – 30km Bike – 5km Run).

Powerkids – New Grassroots Programme for Kids

This year will be slightly different. The whole Powerman event will took 2-days as a brand new grassroots programme – Powerkids, a duathlon programme for children aged between 5 and 12 are introduced and set to be launched in December 2016. Powerkids will be a part of the Asia Championship’s expansion to nurture young and talented multi-sport athletes. It is a programme full with first experience for children to engage in a multi-sport event, following their mom or dad’s footsteps.

Powerkids is segregrated to three age categories: 5 to 7-year-old (0.4km Run – 1km Bike – 0.4km Run), 8 to 10-year-old (0.8km Run – 2km Bike – 0.8km Run), and 11 to 12-year-old (1.2km Run – 3km Bike – 1.2km Run).

Grooming new talent requires training from a young age. Powerkids provides the exposure for kids to learn, grow and compete. Having been successfully implemented in many European races, parents – especially those who are already Powerman duathletes themselves – may consider this opportunity to expose their children to the sports that they do, said Iskandar Shahril, Race Director of Powerman Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Race Information

Driving Sports Tourism in Malaysia

Thanks to Powerkids, which is said to take place on the Saturday, 4th March 2017, a day earlier than Powerman, this gives more reason for oversea participants to travel to Malaysia for the event as a whole family. The nation’s federal administrative centre has also confirmed its inclusion of Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships 2017 as part of its month long Federal Territory celebrations from next year. Powerman remained as one of the preferred races in the sports calendar, whereas 2016 race recorded more than 30 percent of foreign participation from more than 39 nationalities, with the greatest number from Singapore. It brings great tremendous benefits to a city, including raising the host’s profile and increasing tourism dollars such as primary tourism industries like the hospitality services, food and beverage. The organiser will also increase its efforts overseas to boost foreign participation. Promotions have taken place in Switzerland and Thailand, while plans are in place for Singapore and Indonesia.

For more information, registration and updates, please visit www.powermanmalaysia.com or Powerman Malaysia Facebook Page.