Three runners from mainland China have been disqualified for wearing the wrong bibs during the 2025 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday.
Two of the athletes were He Yingbing and Sun Xiaoyang, who won first and second place respectively in the half-marathon, said the event’s organisers, the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA).
He and Sun were stripped of their places, effectively handing the winning title to Hong Kong runner Vincent Lam. Sun placed first in the half-marathon during the event.
The third disqualified athlete finished second in the 10-kilometre race, the HKAAA said during a press conference on Sunday, without disclosing his name.
Hong Kong athlete Wong Tsz-to was declared the new runner-up in the 10-kilometre category.
“All bibs for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon were printed with names of runners. Organisers have been aware that the three runners registered for the events and got their bibs through one manager,” the organisers said in Cantonese.
The HKAAA said it would conduct a further investigation.
Celebrities and Kenyan runners
This year’s marathon event saw more than 74,000 registered runners, including nearly 15,000 international participants from over 100 countries or regions.
Among celebrities spotted joining the annual race was Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun-fat, who finished the half-marathon in under two and a half hours, local media reported.
Kenyan runners swept the top three spots in the men’s marathon, with Bethwell Kipkemboi Rutto finishing first with a time of two hours, 11 minutes and 13 seconds.
Fellow compatriots Kennedy Kipyeko and Seroi Anderson Saitoiti took second and third places respectively.
Volha Mazuronak from Belarus claimed victory in the women’s marathon, clocking in at two hours and 27 seconds.
Hong Kong runners dominated top spots in the other women’s categories. Candy Tsang defended her title in the women’s 10-kilometre race, while Christy Yiu finished first in the women’s half-marathon.
