The Olympic Council of Malaysia has marked the country's National Sports Day with a modified two-kilometre hash run through Sri Bintang Hill Forest in Kuala Lumpur ©OCA/Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has marked the country's National Sports Day with a modified two-kilometre "hash run" through Sri Bintang Hill Forest in Kuala Lumpur.

Hashing is a combination of running, orienteering and partying, where groups of "harriers and harriettes" chase hares on trails usually between eight and 10km long through towns, countryside and deserts.

It began in Kuala Lumpur in 1938, when a group of British colonial officials and expatriates founded a running club called the Hash House Harriers. 

They named the group after their meeting place, the Royal Selangor Club, nicknamed the "Hash House". 

The OCM was supported in the hash run, which featured more than 90 participants, by the Royal Selangor Club Hash, Coca-Cola Malaysia, National Sports Associations and national athletes.

Malaysia’s National Sports Day was founded by Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia, last year.

It is an annual national event held on the second Saturday of October.

Gymnast Ng Shu Wai was among the Malaysian athletes participating at the country's National Sports Day ©Getty Images
Gymnast Ng Shu Wai was among the Malaysian athletes participating at the country's National Sports Day ©Getty Images

One of the objectives in organising the event was introducing hashing as a challenging and non-competitive community activity to members of the OCM, as well as the public.

Other aims included promoting a litter-free environment by asking the participants to bring along garbage bags to collect rubbish, and encouraging the conservation and protection of the Sri Bintang Hill Forest.

The route took the participants up steep hills, through a rubber plantation and jungle and provided views of Kuala Lumpur.

Among the participants were a number of Malaysian athletes, including gymnasts Ng Shu Wai, Ng Shu Mun and Tan Ing Yueh, ten-pin bowler Johnathan Chan, and water skiers Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah, Aiden Yoong Hanifah and Adam Yoong Hanifah.