Labuan: Malaysian kayakers dominated the Labuan International Kayak Mini Marathon 2026 today, with Perlis, Sabah, Putrajaya, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, and Labuan athletes emerging among the top winners in the youth categories.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perlis' Muhammad Mirza Hazari Mat Asri emerged champion in the Men Single Under-21 category, while Sabah's Muhammad Aniq Aqil Mohd Azizi finished as first runner-up. Putrajaya kayaker Ahmad Syafiq Aiman Ahmad Suhaimi took third place in the same category.

In the Men Double Under-21 category, the Putrajaya pair of Muhammad Harizul Iman Mas Irham and Ahmad Syafiq Iqram Ahmad Suhaimi emerged champion. The Terengganu duo of Muhammad Afiq Hakimie Abdullah and Muhammad Syamir Iman Isa finished second, while the Kuala Lumpur pair of Muhammad Akmal Kamaruzaman and Mohamad Asyraf Aaden Mohamad Nisam secured third place.

Sabah's Muhammad Aniq Aqil Mohd Azizi and Alya Farzana Mohd Ali won the Mixed Double Under-21 category, followed by Putrajaya's Dalana Wan Mohd Dhiaunnasri and Petra Danial Arshraf Idris in second place. The Labuan pair of Mohammad Danish Sufian and Nur Syahirah Fathiyah Bahrin finished third.

The seven-kilometre race, which flagged off from Mawilla Beach today, saw 104 kayakers paddling towards Pulau Papan before returning to the starting point. Malaysia topped the participation list with 80 entries, followed by Brunei with 20, Singapore with two, while France and Japan were represented by one participant each.

The event featured Open and Senior categories, with more than RM23,000 in total prizes offered to winners. The kayak mini marathon is among the major events held in conjunction with the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) 2026, which runs from April 28 to May 3. LISC, an annual signature tourism and sea sports event in Labuan, continues to attract local and international participation while promoting the island's marine sports potential and tourism appeal.