KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 24 -- More than 8,000 athletes stormed the 118 floors of Menara Merdeka 118 over the weekend, as the IHH Sky Race returned for its second year to cement its status as Malaysia's premier tower running event.

The two-day spectacle drew participants from 78 countries and secured a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records for the Largest Participation in a Tower Running Event. With 7,797 finishers crossing the line, the race comfortably eclipsed last year's milestone of 5,602.

The competition was fiercest in the men's category. Japanese tower runner Ryoji Watanabe claimed victory with a blistering time of 15 minutes and 38 seconds. He missed breaking the 2025 course record by a mere second, falling just short of the 15 minute...