KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s top tower runner, Soh Wai Ching, has set an ambitious New Year’s goal to reclaim the world number one ranking by November 2025.
The 2024 Tower Running World Champion aims to achieve this by triumphing at the Shanghai Tower International Vertical Marathon, the sport’s most prestigious event, where he fell short this year.
“This year, I finished 11th in Shanghai due to food poisoning, which affected my performance and cost me vital points, dropping my ranking to second,” he told Bernama.
“Next year, I’m determined to make up for the disappointment by winning in November and regaining the top spot.”
Wai Ching, 30, plans to improve his winning percentage in the coming year, targeting a 90% victory rate compared to the 78% he achieved in 2024.
His campaign begins with the International Vertical Marathon PingAn on January 11, offering 200 ranking points, followed by the StairClimbing Championship in Osaka, Japan, on February 16.
“I will make sure I win this tournament,” he added.
The Selayang-born athlete had a remarkable year, clinching the World Tower Running Championship in May by conquering Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
He also dominated the open men’s category at the 2024 Naza Tower Run and secured his third consecutive title at the Scale the Strat tower race in Las Vegas, United States, in February.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Tower Running Association president Ravinder Singh announced plans to elevate the sport locally by organising three high-ranking tournaments in 2025.
“This year, Malaysia hosted 15 tournaments, but their world ranking points were low. Next year, we’ll introduce three major events—two offering 200 points and one with 120 points—to provide our athletes with opportunities to improve their rankings,” said Ravinder.
With these initiatives, Malaysia’s tower-running community hopes to strengthen its presence on the global stage. – December 30, 2024