As the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2023 (SCSM 2023) approaches, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown between two Kenyan running titans, Ezekiel Kemboi Omullo and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego. The defending champion, Kemboi, and the seasoned competitor, Kipyego, are poised for a gripping battle that promises to be the highlight of this year’s marathon extravaganza.

Kemboi, whose lightning-fast victory last year clocked in at 2:20:20, is returning to defend his title. The Kenyan speedster recently turned heads at the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon, securing the second position with a blistering personal best of 2:08:26. In an exclusive interview with ToughASIA, Kemboi revealed that he has intensified his training regimen, doubling down on muscle-building exercises to enhance his speed and endurance.

“I’ve prepared rigorously for this race, making sure I’m in peak condition. Each marathon is a new challenge, and I’m excited to give my best in Singapore. The setbacks only fuel my determination to succeed, and I’m ready to leave everything on the track,” Kemboi added.

However, the plot thickens as Kemboi faced an unexpected setback in the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 2023, finishing 6th with a time of 2:14:50. This only adds fuel to the fire as the defending champion is determined to reclaim his dominance on the Singaporean tracks.

Now, enter Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, a decorated athlete with a laundry list of accomplishments that include a bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and a silver medal at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Kipyego’s impressive resume also boasts victories at the 10-mile Great South Run, the 2009 Berlin Half Marathon (clocking a phenomenal 59:34), and the 2014 Amsterdam Marathon with a personal best of 2:06:22.

SCSM 2023 is not just a race; it’s a battlefield. The marathon, reinstated as a World Athletics Gold Label Race for the first time in April 2023 since the pandemic, is expected to draw up to 50,000 participants.

The excitement doesn’t end with Kemboi and Kipyego. The three-day festival includes the International Elite Race, where top long-distance runners from around the globe will compete for glory alongside Singapore’s finest in the National Championships.

As Singapore transforms into the epicentre of global marathon competition, all eyes will be on the fierce competition between the elite line-up, especially Kemboi and Kipyego, each determined to outpace the other in this exhilarating battle for supremacy.

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2023 Livestream