Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon Season 4: Breaking records, spreading the spirit of excellence

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Training, and Mr. Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hanoi City, presented awards to outstanding athletes in the men's marathon race.

Notably, the number of athletes registering for the 21km distance this year accounts for more than 30%, a significant increase compared to last season, showing the strong development of Vietnamese sports.

Vietnamese athletes shine, setting many new records

This year's season brings together the best athletes, from Vietnamese track and field stars such as Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Nguyen Thi Oanh, Nguyen Van Lai, Nguyen Trung Cuong to the champions of the previous season such as Kiptoo Edwin (Male Champion Season 3 - 2024). The competition between veteran faces and new elements created exciting chases in the Marathon distance, ending with a surprising result when a newcomer from Ethiopia excelled to win the overall victory.

In the men's Marathon, athlete Kure Ebisa Takele (Ethiopia) finished first with a time of 2:29:34, followed by Lilan Kennedy (Kenya) with a time of 2:30:27, athletes Hoang Nguyen Thanh and Huynh Anh Khoi - two representatives from Vietnam - finished third and fourth with a time of 2:30:57 and 2:33:34 respectively, Edwin Kiptoo (Kenya) finished in fifth place with a time of 2:37:34.

In the women's Marathon race, Vietnamese athletes absolutely dominated, taking all five leading positions, affirming the resilience and mettle of domestic female athletes. Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, the 2024 national record holder with a time of 2:44:52 at the Hong Kong Marathon, and four consecutive winners of the National Marathon Championship (2022–2025) – continued to affirm her class when she finished first with a time of 2:54:19. Bui Thi Thu Ha and Doan Thi Oanh came second and third with a time of 2:57:03 and 2:57:55, respectively. The next two positions belonged to Nguyen Thi Tra Giang with a time of 3:07:55 and Thai Thi Hong with a time of 3:08:16.

Competing in the Vietnam Marathon Open category, prominent names continued to assert their position on the challenging race track. In the men's category, athlete Pham Tien San excellently finished first with a time of 2:40:25, followed by Ha Quang Thang in second place with a time of 2:41:27, and Nguyen Mai Trung in third with a time of 2:43:23. In the women's category, the top place belonged to Hoang Huong Thuy with a time of 3:10:21, second place was Pham Thi My Duyen with a time of 3:12:53, and third place was Nguyen Thi My Hien with a result of 3:18:40.

These record numbers not only break personal limits but also affirm the quality of the race, proving the strength of the athletes' will, overcoming the challenges on the track. In particular, Vietnamese athletes also shined with outstanding achievements, contributing to affirming the growth of the domestic marathon movement.

Athlete Pham Tien San on his journey to conquer the 4th Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon.

Immediately after receiving the First Prize of the Vietnam Open Marathon - Athlete Pham Tien San, First Prize of the Vietnam Open Marathon, shared: “After many years of competing, being on the podium once again is a great source of pride for me. I want to send a message to young runners: keep your love for this sport, persistent training will definitely help you reach milestones that you yourself did not expect. For me, more than a victory, the most meaningful thing is that today I have witnessed the strong development of the Vietnamese running movement, more and more athletes participating, setting higher and higher goals and having regional running races such as the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon.”

This year, the Organizing Committee announced a list of 101 outstanding athletes in the final categories and by age group, of which 34 athletes were honored directly on stage, creating an emotional and proud moment of honor while inspiring tens of thousands of attendees and millions of viewers watching live on television and social media platforms.

The special highlight of this year's season is the appearance of the Numberless Train - a group of more than 80 runners who have completed the marathon in under 3 hours and 5 minutes.

The special highlight of this year's season is the appearance of the largest No Number Train (Sub 3 Train) in the history of Vietnam Marathon - gathering more than 80 runners who have completed the marathon in under 3 hours. Initiated by PR SPORT - the official costume sponsor, the Sub 3 train on the season 4 race not only represents fast steps, but also becomes a symbol of steel spirit, strong will and desire to conquer the peak, strongly inspiring the Vietnamese running community in the journey to overcome each person's limits.

Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon Season 4 affirms its position as the capital's iconic race

The 4th Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon attracted 13,000 athletes, 1.5 times higher than the previous season.

After four consecutive seasons, each season has its own highlights with increasingly large scale, increasingly superior professional quality and strong influence, the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon continues to affirm its position as a symbolic race of the Capital, a place to honor the perseverance, the spirit of overcoming limits, contributing to promoting the image of Hanoi with thousands of years of culture, international integration and at the same time contributing to putting the Vietnamese marathon movement on the global sports map.

Before the competition day, the 2025 Marathon Village, which took place from October 3 to October 5, welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors, an increase of 30% compared to last year, along with more than 30 exhibition booths, turning the pre-race activities into a vibrant sports and cultural festival, adding a place for the running community to interact, connect and experience health and nutrition products and advanced technology for training and physical improvement.

Mr. Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hanoi City, said: “This year's event is truly special as it not only spreads national pride but also leaves a deep impression in the hearts of athletes and the public, as a cultural and community festival in the spirit of the thousand-year-old capital. I believe that, with the persistent support of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hanoi City, the tournament will continue to develop strongly, become larger and more professional, and soon stand shoulder to shoulder with major marathon tournaments in the region as well as in the world.”

Ms. Thai Minh Diem Tu, Marketing Director of Techcombank, shared: “I am extremely proud to accompany more than 13,000 athletes at the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon – where passion for sports, the spirit of excelling every day and national pride come together. This year, we have integrated AI technology to create personalized videos of the running journey, and also broadcast the race live on multiple platforms for the first time – these pioneering innovations have helped spread the movement more strongly and connect the community more deeply. Techcombank is committed to continuing to invest in such breakthrough experiences, to join Vietnamese runners in building a healthy, creative, connected society, always excelling every day and ready to conquer new heights with Vietnam in the era of national advancement.”

Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon runs through the most beautiful cultural and historical sites of the capital Hanoi.

The success of the 4th Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon is the result of the support and joint efforts of government agencies, local leaders, partners, sponsors, media units and the runner community at home and abroad. This connection not only contributes to elevating the tournament to become a professional sports playground, bearing the cultural and spiritual imprint of the capital, but also affirms the role of businesses and organizations in working with the government to promote a healthy lifestyle, spreading the spirit of sports training for community health and sustainable development. From there, the image of a dynamic, integrated and aspiring Vietnam continues to spread - where sports become a bridge between people, the community and the spirit of "Running for a superior Vietnam".

Linh Lang

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giai-marathon-quoc-te-ha-noi-techcombank-mua-thu-4-but-pha-ky-luc-lan-toa-tinh-than-vuot-troi-post913510.html