In a performance that surprised many but thrilled the crowd, national track and field athlete G.Sivanesharan made a spectacular marathon debut by clinching the men’s 42km title at the highly anticipated SCORE Marathon 2025, held in the heart of Putrajaya.
Clocking 2 hours, 48 minutes and 8 seconds (2:48:08s), Sivaneshwaran outspaced seasoned runners Lim Kok Leong (2:51:00s) and Muhamad Naqib Haikal Abdul Rahman (2:51:28s) in the final kilometres of the flagship race.
The win is all the more impressive considering this was Sivaneshwaran’s first-ever full marathon. Known previously for his track performances, he bagged bronze in the 10,000m at the 2018 ASEAN University Games, the athlete entered the marathon with modest intention.
“I only signed up because my running club offered to sponsor my trip to a marathon in Vietnam this December, if I could clock a sub-three-hour-finish. I didn’t even think I’d win. I just wanted to finish strong”, Sivaneshwaran shared.
Months of dedicated preparation paid off. Sivaneshwaran trained intensively for three to four months, incorporating long-distance runs and strength training at the gym. He noted that the challenging, hilly route in Putrajaya tested his endurance, but believed that on a flatter course, he could have shaved off nearly 20 minutes from his time.
Record Participation
The 2025 edition of the SCORE Marathon, backed by AIA Vitality, recorded an astounding 33,000 runners from 48 countries, reinforcing its reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most inclusive running events.
In the lead-up to race day, organisers hosted Running Clinic Tours across the Klang Valley, providing both beginners and seasoned athletes with practical race preparation support-both physically and mentally.
As the cheers faded and the medals were claimed, one thing was clear, the 2025 SCORE Marathon wasn’t just another race, it marked a new chapter for rising stars like Sivaneshwaran, and a proud moment for Malaysia’s distance running community.
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