By P. Chandra Sagaran

The Ipoh International Run 2024, which made a comeback after a hiatus of seven years, was flagged off today with the participation of some 3,500 runners at Indera Mulia Stadium here.

Apart from local participants  a total of 57 foreign athletes from Singapore, China, Japan, Brunei,Denmark, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Kenya also took part.

The run offered a total prize money of RM15,100. 

The run was last held in 2017, but could not be held due to Sukma Games.

The following years it was stopped after the country was hit by Covid-19 pandemic. 

The run was divided into 15 categories in which the participants had to complete 21km, 10km and 5km.

State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee Chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah and council secretary Ahmad Munir Ishak presented the prizes to the winners. 

Also present were Perak Sports Council Director Mazlan Mohamad, CEO of Tourism Perak Nurmalis Musa, Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture Perak Office Director  Muhammad Aminuddin Abdul Majid and councillors. 

For the first time runners got to enjoy coconut drinks for hydration purposes. Some of the participants went home with lucky draw prizes. 

The crowd was also entertained by singers, dance and also senamrobik. 

Former national athlete Samson Vellabouy and former national high jumper Loo Kum Zee were present as ambassadors for the run. 

The event was jointly organised by Ipoh City Council and Ashkhu Glow Event Management.