Juniper
KL Wellness City (KLWC) today hosted The International Triathlon Race, Challenge Malaysia Launch 2026 at the KL Wellness City Gallery, underscoring Malaysia’s growing stature as a regional hub for endurance sports, wellness, and sports tourism. The launch was officiated by YBhg. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, as Guest of Honour.
KL Wellness City is proud to be an official partner of Challenge Malaysia, aligning with the event’s mission to promote active lifestyles, holistic wellness, and international sports tourism. This partnership reflects KLWC’s commitment to integrating health, wellness, and community engagement within its 26.5-acre township development in Bukit Jalil.
As part of this collaboration, a team from KL Wellness City led by Dato’ Sri Dr. Vincent Tiew and athlete team will also be participating in the Challenge Malaysia race on 18 October 2026, demonstrating KLWC’s hands-on commitment to health, endurance sports, and community participation.
Adding to the significance of the launch, Dato’ Sri Dr. Vincent Tiew and five other athlete team members will be representing KL Wellness City at Challenge Taiwan, scheduled to take place on 25 April 2026 in Taitung, Taiwan. Of the team, three athletes will be taking on the long-distance race, comprising a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and 42.2km marathon run, while the remaining three athletes will compete in the middle-distance category, which includes a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and 21.1km half marathon. Their participation reflects KL Wellness City’s strong culture of leading by example in endurance sports and its commitment to promoting resilience, wellness, and athletic excellence on an international stage.
“Our partnership with Challenge Malaysia reflects KL Wellness City’s commitment to promoting active lifestyles and holistic wellness beyond healthcare facilities. By supporting endurance sports and participating in the race ourselves, we aim to inspire communities to embrace healthier, more active living while positioning Malaysia as a destination for wellness and sports tourism.” said Dato’ Sri Dr Vincent Tiew, the Executive Director of KL Wellness City.
Representing Challenge Malaysia, Ms Yeang Lim Hooi Yen highlighted the significance of the collaboration and the growing momentum of the event in the region. She said, “Challenge Malaysia continues to gain strong traction as a premier endurance race in Southeast Asia, and our partnership with KL Wellness City marks an important step in strengthening the connection between sport, wellness, and sustainable sports tourism. With world-class infrastructure and strong institutional support, we are confident that Challenge Malaysia 2026 will deliver an exceptional experience for athletes while elevating Malaysia’s profile on the global triathlon calendar.”
About Challenge Malaysia
Established in 2023, Challenge Malaysia is a premier endurance sporting event designed to deliver an exceptional experience for both athletes and spectators. The race features a 1.9km swim off the main beach, followed by a 90km bike course traversing cityscapes, ocean views, and mangrove jungles on smooth, fast roads, before concluding with a 21km half marathon through the futuristic streets of Forest City.
Located less than 45 minutes’ drive from Johor Bahru city centre, Forest City offers first-class infrastructure within a calm, well-maintained environment. The race culminates at a vibrant tropical beachfront race hub, creating a distinctive and memorable experience for participants and supporters alike.
The event offers multiple race categories, making it an inclusive sporting weekend for participants of all ages and abilities.
Race Categories
- Middle Distance: Swim 1.9km, Bike 90km, Run 21km (9 age groups)
- Sprint Distance: Swim 750m, Bike 20km, Run 5km (3 age groups)
- Olympic Distance: Swim 1.5km, Bike 40km, Run 10km (9 age groups)
- Kids Triathlon: Swim 100m / 200m, Bike 4km / 8km, Run 1km / 2km
(Ages 7–12 and 13–15)
Challenge Family ushered in a new era of long-distance triathlon, founded 23 years ago by Herbert Walchshofer. Today, Challenge Family hosted 31 races worldwide, focusing on delivering “the race of a lifetime” to athletes of all ages and abilities. Its events are renowned for creating unforgettable experiences that capture the excitement and emotions of this inspirational sport for competitors, friends, family, and supporters alike.
In the 2025, Challenge Malaysia successfully attracted more than 550 participants from both local and international markets, underscoring its growing reputation as a premier endurance event in the region. For 2026, organisers are targeting 800 participants, further strengthening Malaysia’s position as a leading destination for international sports tourism.
Through its partnership with Challenge Malaysia, KL Wellness City continues to champion wellness, active living, and global engagement, reinforcing its vision of shaping healthier communities and positioning Malaysia on the world stage for wellness and sports tourism.
For those interested in participating, please email to info@challenge-malaysia.com for more information or visit the official Challenge Malaysia website at www.challenge-malaysia.com for registration details.
Another key highlight of the press conference was the strong presence and support of KL Wellness City’s Strategic Partners, reflecting a shared commitment towards promoting active lifestyles, wellness, and community engagement. Participating partners included Kinohimitsu Malaysia, Vivo Malaysia, Vanilla Crepe, O’Briens Irish Sandwich Cafe, Nisa Bakti Gourmet,COWA, Famous Amos Malaysia, Sweat Spa, SQL by EIST, Anemos, Warrior Plunge, Danai Wellness Spa, Avomilk, Daily Bekal, whose involvement added vibrancy to the event and reinforced the importance of cross-industry collaboration in advancing sports, wellness, and lifestyle initiatives.
