Making her full marathon debut, TAR UMT student Esther Joy Chen Hong Li, a former student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Jaya who is currently pursuing a Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science, clinched first place in the Full Marathon Malaysian Women Open category at the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026 held on 3 and 4 October 2026, clocking an impressive time of 3 hours, 5 minutes and 20 seconds.
A triathlete by training, Esther took on the 42 km challenge after learning that triathlon was not included in the list of sports for the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia. When KLSCM was announced as the qualifying race for the SEA Games marathon, she and her coach saw an opportunity to explore a new discipline and test her capabilities.
With only a couple of months to prepare, Esther completed an eight-week marathon-specific training block, shifting her focus towards building the endurance and running mileage required for the demanding distance.
It was also very important for her to be able to balance her training sessions with her studies. Having grown accustomed to managing both commitments, Esther prioritised her time to ensure she could meet her academic and training responsibilities.
Access to TAR UMT’s sports facilities also made a difference, allowing her to train between classes or complete her sessions on days when she could not attend team training. This convenience helped her maintain her training routine alongside her studies.
As it was her first time competing at KLSCM, she had to navigate unfamiliar terrain while carefully managing her pace and effort. “Throughout most of the race, I was focused on executing my race strategy properly rather than thinking about winning. It was only around the 32km to 35km mark that I started to think that I might actually be able to make it. From there, it was about managing my effort, avoiding mistakes and getting myself safely to the finish line,” she said.
For Esther, the victory was particularly meaningful, as she was the youngest female athlete in the field and a triathlete competing against some of the country’s top marathon runners. Although her finishing time was not quite what she had aimed for, she sees the experience as a valuable starting point and an opportunity to improve.
“I also felt like I was representing more than just myself. I was also representing TAR UMT, and the wider triathlon community, while showing that you can step outside your usual discipline and still perform at a high level,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Esther hopes to achieve a sub-three-hour marathon in the near future. While her potential selection for the 2027 SEA Games has yet to be confirmed, she plans to continue focusing on triathlon training in the coming season, as it remains her main sporting passion.
Esther proudly displaying her Champion Medal on the podium after winning the Full Marathon Malaysian Women Open category at KLSCM 2026.
