New Balance is the official sports shoe sponsor of the Joong Ang Ilbo Marathon in Seoul on November 3 and the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon in February next year. It is also the sponsor for the second year of the Singapore International Marathon in December.
New Balance international marketing manager, Catherine Jakaitis, said the company was ranked fourth internationally in the sports shoe industry.
"New Balance started small and remains privately-owned. We have grown based on our professional merit and unique width sizing offerings, as opposed to trendy fashions or high profile celebrity endorsements."
The majority of New Balance's shoes come in three width sizes with some offered in five different widths, ranging from 2A to 6E. Jakaitis added: "Our aim is for New Balance to enjoy the same prestigious reputation with marathoners in Asia that it has with serious runners in the rest of the world."
In recent years the number of runners in Asia has increased, with marathoners in the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon growing from 1,000 in 1995 to 13,570 participants last year.
