Kota Kinabalu: World champion Daniel Hasulyo from Hungary showcased his prowess by winning the inaugural Borneo International Stand-Up Paddle Marathon (BISM) held here on Sunday.
He completed the challenging 42km solo overall category in an impressive time of five hours, 15 minutes, and 36 seconds to earn him not only the title but also a cash prize of US$1,500, a GoPro Max360 and a wooden paddle board.
Following Hasulyo were Japan’s Kenta Yamada and Shuma Goko, who secured the second and third places, respectively, with times of 5:21:33 and 5:32:48.
In the women’s category, Tseng Yi-Wen of Chinese Taipei claimed victory with a time of 6:15:25. She finished well ahead of Thailand’s Waraporn Wiriyahyuttamar (7:15:51) and Malaysia’s Lisa Poroting (7:20:39).
The full marathon winners in the other categories were Keefe Anargya Pranoto (men’s junior), Alyaa Ahmad Rafiz Hariz (women’s junior) and Tsuyoshi Sawada (men’s master: 50 above).
The event also featured the 21km half-marathon and the winners were Yoann Martin (men’s open), Dg Zarina Sasha James (women’s open), Ferdy (men’s junior), Dalya Mohd Farizal (women’s junior), Koh Cheng Hsiung 9 (men’s master: 50 above), Eka Hartatik (women’s master: 50 above), while the relay races through Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park was won by team F (Japan and Thailand) followed by Team D (Indonesia) and Team E (Kinabalu Yacht Club).
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Jafry Ariffin, who officiated the closing ceremony at Pacific Sutera in the evening, congratulated all the participants and praised the organisers.
He said the occasion was a celebration of sportsmanship, adventure, and international unity.
According to him, the gathering was not just a display of sporting prowess, but also a demonstration of the breathtaking natural beauty of Sabah.
“Sabah is truly blessed with world-class natural assets, our pristine seas, stunning islands, and breathtaking coastline, which make it an ideal destination for water sports tourism.
“Events such as this not only showcase our natural beauty but also position Sabah as a premier hub for international sporting events,” he said.
He added that the event was held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 in preparation for Visit Sabah Year 2027.
“These initiatives aim to strengthen Malaysia and Sabah’s position on the global tourism map, and events like today play a crucial role in attracting visitors, boosting our local economy, and promoting sustainable tourism.”
He added that the ministry recognised its potential and fully supports the inclusion of Borneo International Stand-Up Paddle Marathon into Sabah’s official tourism calendar of events.
“We look forward to seeing this event grow and be organised annually, becoming one of the region’s signature international sporting attractions,” he said.
