TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung City Government announced enhanced security measures Tuesday (Jan. 6) for the 2026 Fubon Marathon (富邦馬拉松), set to take place on Saturday (Jan. 11). The marathon will draw thousands of runners to the National Stadium (國家體育場), a venue built for the 2009 World Games, for an upgraded race experience. Officials stated they will deploy additional police patrols to ensure the safety of both runners and residents throughout the event.
According to a press release, the men's full marathon features fierce competition, with Chou Hung-yu (周鴻宇) emerging as a favorite to win the title. Chou will face strong challenges from domestic contenders including Chang Ching-tun (張景敦) and Lin Chiu-chieh (林秋杰) in the men's race. In the women's division, leading runners Tsai Ya-an (蔡雅安) and Hsu Chao-cheng (許詔程) will vie for the championship against elite athletes Tsai Yun-hsuan (蔡昀軒) and Chen Ya-fen (陳雅芬).
Half-marathon participants will also face intense races, with Chao Yu-jui (趙宥瑞), Lin Che-wei (林哲緯), and Eric Wu (吳宇穆) battling for the men's title. Hsieh Chien-ho (謝千鶴) returns to defend her crown in the women's half-marathon category against strong competition from other elite runners. Taiwanese marathon legend Hsu Yu-fang (許玉芳) and her son, rising star Chien Tzu-chieh (簡子傑), will officiate at the finish line, adding symbolic significance to the event.
Fubon Angels (富邦啦啦隊), the cheerleading squad sponsored by Fubon Financial, will greet finishers with medals and congratulations at the finish line. The marathon continues to promote sports equality, with wheelchair athlete Chiu Yu-heng (邱于恆) participating in the event to demonstrate his enduring passion for athletics. Organizers stated that the inclusion of wheelchair athletes reflects the marathon's commitment to accessibility and athletic diversity in Taiwan.