Towerrunning, once considered a niche urban sport is climbing its way into the Malaysian public’s imagination. While all eyes were on Soh Wai Ching, who recently won the 2024 Towerrunning World Championship at Taipei 101, there’s a parallel story unfolding on home ground: one of community runs, stairwells-turned-training grounds, and growing support for a sport that’s literally about rising above.
Soh Wai Ching: A Vertical Legend
Malaysia’s own Soh Wai Ching scaled Taipei 101’s 91 + 59 floors and 646m elevation gain in just 18 minutes and 36.62 seconds, edging out global contenders to take first place. His win placed Malaysia firmly on the map in this demanding sport. But beyond the headlines and international podiums, Soh has remained grounded, often found training alongside weekend enthusiasts at Menara MBPJ, week after week.
“It’s not just about winning medals,” Soh has said. “It’s about building a stair climbing culture. Anyone with legs and lungs can try.”
Training in the Heart of PJ
Soh trains at Menara MBPJ and leads regular community sessions. The partnership with MBPJ supports his world tour ambitions but also ensures that the public, especially students and young athletes, benefit from his experience.
Meet the Malaysia Towerrunning Association (MTA)
Behind this national momentum is the Malaysia Towerrunning Association, led by President Ravinder Singh. Under his leadership, MTA has worked to formalize Towerrunning as an official sport under the Sports Development Act 1997. Ravinder sees Towerrunning as a uniquely Malaysian opportunity:
“We have the skyline, the talent, and the drive. From Exchange 106 to Merdeka 118, our cities are natural arenas for vertical races”
He believes the sport can also address urban health challenges by providing an accessible, affordable, weather-proof exercise option.
From Skyscrapers to School Gyms
What’s inspiring is how Towerrunning is filtering down to school clubs and university sports programs. Soh frequently visits schools to give talks and demos, climbing alongside students and showing that endurance isn’t just about elite genetics, it’s about consistency.
“We have elderly uncles, housewives, students, even cancer survivors joining tower runs,” Ravinder notes. “It’s not about time. It’s about the climb.”
Community Races and Vertical Festivals
Plans are underway for the Merdeka 118 Sky Challenge, set to become one of the tallest tower runs in the world. MTA also hopes to hold an inter-varsity Towerrunning league and include tower runs in corporate wellness programs.
With growing interest, more towers are opening their stairwells to public races, and fitness influencers are jumping on the trend. What was once a solo sport is becoming a social one, built on mutual encouragement, sore calves, and the shared joy of reaching the top.
Want to Try?
Start Small: Practice on 5–10 flights at home or office stairwells.
Join a Run: Watch for weekly (Saturday) MBPJ climbs which has now reached 95 consecutive weeks or check malaysiatowerrunning for events.
Follow Soh Wai Ching on Instagram often he shares training tips and race updates.
Towerrunning isn’t just for champions. It’s for anyone ready to take the next step, literally
