Soh Rui Yong claims dual marathon crowns at Stanchart 2025; secures medical clearance for SEA Games

SINGAPORE: National marathoner Soh Rui Yong clinched both the half-marathon and full marathon national titles during the 2025 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM), held over its new two-day race format on 6 and 7 December 2025, marking a standout weekend for the 34-year-old athlete.

The 2025 edition of SCSM introduced its first split-format schedule, with races held across two days.

Soh began his campaign on 6 Dec, winning the national half-marathon title in 1:14:58, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Najib Mooiz (1:15:14), while Ahmad Arif Ibrahim placed third in 1:16:26.

He returned the following day for the full marathon, clocking 2hrs 46mins 23secs to secure his sixth national marathon title, finishing four seconds ahead of compatriot Aaron Tan, and placing 16th overall at the Padang. Darren Chong came in third with 2:46:45.

Speaking to media after completing back-to-back races, Soh acknowledged the physical toll of the effort.

“I tell you, it’s no joke man. I’m never gonna do this again,” he said to reporters.

In the elite men’s category, Abel Sikowo of Uganda won in 2:15:40, followed by Kenyans Mathew Samperu (2:15:46) and Wisley Kimeli (2:15:53).

Strategy Behind the Double

Soh said he approached the weekend strategically, treating the two events as one long-distance challenge.

“My plan was very simple. I’m looking at this as a 63km race, not a 21km race,” he said, explaining that he paced conservatively early on before pushing later in the run.

He added that experience made a difference in the closing stages.

“I wasn’t leading until between 19 and 20km, and I think that’s where a bit of experience paid off.”

However, he also recalled a moment of difficulty mid-race.

“Suddenly I felt my head a bit light… the thought even crept in, like, do I drop out?” he said, before regaining rhythm after refuelling.

Reflects on Pandemic Struggles and Bond with Ex-ActiveSG Teammates

On 7 December 2025, Soh shared a post on Instagram titled “The impossible double”, celebrating a podium finish with former ActiveSG training partners Aaron and Darren at the Singapore Marathon national championship. 

In the caption, he reflected on the Covid-19 lockdown as a difficult period in his running career, noting that training sessions with the pair helped him stay motivated and restored his sense of purpose.

He wrote that the bond formed with his training partners “will last a lifetime,” adding that both runners had previously faced setbacks in their marathon debut experiences but returned stronger to earn podium positions.

Soh described the race as demanding but enjoyable, saying he respected his competitors and was “over the moon” to stand on the podium with his former teammates.

Cleared for SEA Games After Medical Review

Concerns arose earlier in the week when an electrocardiogram (ECG) screening on 4 Dec showed abnormal readings, placing his Games participation in doubt.

After undergoing further tests referred through Sport Singapore’s High Performance Sport Institute, Soh received a specialist assessment the following day.

On 8 Dec, Singapore Athletics confirmed he has been medically cleared to compete at the 2025 SEA Games, following a full cardiology evaluation.

A spokesperson told The Straits Times: “Following an irregular finding during his routine pre-Games screening last week, Soh was referred for a specialist cardiology assessment. The specialist conducted a full evaluation and concluded that Soh is fit to compete, with no cardiac concerns that would prevent him from racing.”

Soh will now travel to Bangkok for the Games, where he is set to run only the 10,000m event on 16 Dec, despite qualifying for three disciplines including the marathon. The runner is aiming for a podium finish, having won silver in the same event in 2023.

He also enters the Games off the back of a new national 10,000m record, clocking 30min 33.29sec in Tokyo on 29 Nov, breaking the previous mark of 31:02.40 by Shaun Goh.