Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

A Medal Haul: Xtep Athletes Secure 6 Golds, 2 Silver, 2 Bronzes

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Attracting 23,000 runners globally, the 8th Edition of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon successfully launched on December 7. After an intense competition, Xtep-sponsored elite athletes delivered a dominant performance. In the men's full marathon, Ethiopian international elites swept the podium: Ayalew Seleshi Simaneh claimed victory with an impressive time of 02:23:12, followed by Wondale Melsew Baye (02:23:23) and Kebede Leta Girma (02:23:32). In the women's race, Xtep's local brand ambassador Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ secured first place with 02:48:07, while Ethiopian athletes Mohamed Yenework Husen (02:48:45) and Zega Mestu Sirabzu (02:50:52) took second and fourth places respectively. Additionally, Vietnamese runner Bá Văn Hân, representing the local Xtep team, achieved third place in the men's category with 02:33:01. As a long-standing and committed partner of the event, technical footwear and apparel brand Xtep marked its 4th consecutive year as the Exclusive Apparel Sponsor, further underscoring the brand's professional spirit and enduring dedication to high-performance running and athlete-focused innovation.

Ho Chi Minh City is rapidly emerging as a leading running hub in Southeast Asia. According to data from the event organizers, registrations for this year's race increased by approximately 28% compared with last year, continuing a multi-year trend of strong growth. This momentum reflects the city's improving running environment and its increasingly dynamic sports culture. Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, highlighted the event's broader significance, stating, "This is one of the city's most distinctive sports-tourism events, attracting international visitors while inspiring and uniting the community." Echoing this view, Mr. Nguyen Nam Nhan, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, added, "The race also helps position Ho Chi Minh City as an attractive international destination for regional sporting events. Moving forward, we remain committed to supporting the growth of the marathon, so it becomes one of the region's leading community marathons, contributing meaningfully to the city's sustainable development and international reputation." Ho Chi Minh City has been systematically accelerating the development of urban green spaces and public areas to provide better conditions for residents and running enthusiasts. These initiatives are translating into consistently rising public enthusiasm and participation across the community.

 

 

At the pre-race Marathon Expo which opened on December 5, Xtep's lineup of high-performance running products drew significant attention from participants. Ms. Đào Thị Thu Hương, Deputy General Director of Xtep Vietnam, highlighted the philosophy behind these innovations at the race opening ceremony: "Guided by our mission to become a top global sports brand that blends performance with style, Xtep is committed to continuous innovation. We are dedicated to providing athletes with the best possible equipment, empowering them to perform at their peak." This commitment was on full display with products like the championship-caliber 160X 7.0, designed to help runners feel comfortable, confident, and at ease on every stretch of the course. The brand's professional proposition was further evidenced through its sponsorship of elite athletes, backing a local team of 6 and an international team of 6 competitors. This strategic blend of top-tier international talent and dedicated local runners does more than secure victories; it actively elevates the competitive landscape for all participants, setting a new benchmark for the event and accelerating its journey toward becoming a world-class race. Furthermore, Xtep's running club, X-Run, demonstrated its strength, with many of its members achieving outstanding results across various race distances and leaving a remarkable impression. These achievements not only highlight the individual prowess of the runners but also reflect the effective support system and community that Xtep has cultivated.

Building on this successful track record of empowering runners, Xtep is committed to further deepening its engagement with the running community in Vietnam. Looking ahead, Xtep is committed to deepening its support for the runners of the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon. This commitment will be realized through continuous product innovation, including introducing advanced footwear like the 160X series adapted to local conditions, and through community initiatives such as organizing running clinics and training workshops. These multifaceted efforts embody Xtep's core philosophy of "Influencing the Masses through Professionalism"—aiming to elevate the running experience for athletes at all levels, promote a scientific approach to the sport, and contribute to a lasting, vibrant running culture in Vietnam.

About XTEP

XTEP Group, one of the leading sports brands in China, was founded in 1987 and officially established as the brand XTEP in 2001. The Group was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 3, 2008 (01368.hk). In 2019, the Group launched its global strategy, incorporating Saucony, Merrell, K•SWISS, and Palladium to become a leading international sports group with multiple sports brands. For more about XTEP, please visit https://www.globalxtep.com/

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

Xtep-Athletes Sweep Full Marathon Podiums at Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that reflects the shifting expectations of Malaysia's modern workforce, VSure Group and virtual healthcare provider HEYDOC Health have jointly launched CareConnect Suite, a new digital ecosystem aimed at closing long-standing gaps in employee benefits for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The foundation of CareConnect Suite is the combination of EzPA — VSure's uniquely curated, affordable and accessible PA protection with hospital income benefit — and FutureK, HEYDOC Health's digitally integrated outpatient care model.

CareConnect Suite is part of VSure SME Pro, the company's broader initiative to strengthen protection and financial resilience for small businesses through simple and affordable digital solutions. VSure SME Pro was developed following VSure's recognition as the Malaysia winner of the UNDP–Generali Insurance Innovation Challenge 2024, which acknowledged the company's innovative approach to supporting SMEs.

The partnership brings together two fast-growing players from Malaysia's insurtech and healthtech sectors. Their combined solution offers personal accident protection, hospitalisation income replacement, virtual doctor consultations, digital pharmacy services and nationwide medication fulfilment — all delivered through a single, connected platform.

While employee benefit programmes have traditionally been dominated by large insurers and corporate medical providers, both companies believe that SMEs — which make up over 97% of all Malaysian businesses — have been largely left out of the conversation.

A Growing Need Among Underserved SMEs

Rising healthcare costs, talent competitiveness, and the growing prevalence of freelance and gig-based work have pushed SMEs to re-evaluate how they support their workers. Yet many smaller firms lack the resources to offer conventional medical benefits, which often come with high premiums, restrictive underwriting, and heavy administrative demands.

VSure and HEYDOC Health say CareConnect Suite is designed to fill this gap with a more practical proposition:

• RM20 per employee per month
• Unlimited virtual healthcare
• Integrated protection and medication services
• Paperless onboarding

"The majority of Malaysia's workforce sits within SMEs, but access to traditional employee benefits has not kept pace with their needs," said Eddy Wong, Co-Founder & CEO of VSure Group. "CareConnect Suite is our way of offering SMEs a realistic path forward — something affordable, something simple, and something that actually works for their teams."

The solution also extends beyond employers. Freelancers, gig-workers, individuals and families can subscribe directly to the same ecosystem, mirroring global trends in personalised, digital-first healthcare.

Where Protection Meets Virtual Healthcare

What differentiates CareConnect Suite from typical insurer–telehealth tie-ups is the level of integration behind the scenes. A user can consult a doctor, receive an e-prescription, confirm medication fulfilment and activate protection benefits — all without switching platforms.

For HEYDOC Health, which operates the FutureK hybrid care model, the partnership offers a channel to deliver affordable outpatient care at a wider scale.

"This collaboration brings together digital-first insurance, hybrid outpatient care and drug-pricing optimisation in a transparent and cost-efficient manner," said Dr. Raymond Choy, CEO of HEYDOC Health. "It moves us closer to a healthcare environment that is inclusive, preventive and sustainable. We are excited to expand this partnership to more communities across Malaysia and beyond."

A Step Forward for Malaysia's Digital Health and Insurtech Sectors

Industry analysts note that Malaysia has seen rapid growth in telehealth and digital protection solutions, fuelled by pandemic-driven adoption and rising expectations for on-demand services.

CareConnect Suite is one of the few offerings in the market that blends:

• protection,
• outpatient care,
• medication logistics, and
• digital onboarding

into a single, SME-friendly package.

The companies also believe the model can scale regionally, especially across markets where SMEs form the economic backbone and digital healthcare uptake is accelerating.

About VSure Group

VSure is a pioneer in digital, on-demand and embedded protection in Malaysia, offering micro-duration and accessible coverage for consumers, SMEs and enterprises. The company was recognised by UNDP as the Malaysia Insurance Innovation Challenge Fund Winner 2024

About HEYDOC Health

HEYDOC Health is a leading digital health company in Malaysia, offering AI-powered healthcare infrastructure solutions including telehealth and electronic prescriptions (via DOC2US), smart drug formulary and pricing optimisation (via enSURE), and digital outpatient programs such as FutureK. Heydoc Health is committed to transforming healthcare delivery through technology, transparency, and trust.

Call to Action (CTA)

SMEs, freelancers and individuals who are interested in CareConnect Suite can visit:
https://www.vsure.life/careconnect_suite.php to learn more about the offering and proceed with their subscription.

Businesses looking to explore the full range of SME-focused solutions under VSure SME Pro may visit: https://www.vsure.life/smepro

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

VSure and HEYDOC Health Introduce CareConnect Suite, Transforming SME Protection and Digital Healthcare in Malaysia