Japanese industrial products manufacturer Toray Industries will return as a sponsor of the Shanghai International Marathon following a three-year absence from the distance running event.

The company’s return to the major Shanghai sports event was announced by the organizing committee on Tuesday. The race is slated for Nov. 8.

Formerly, the annual event was named the Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon, as the company was the main sponsor ever since the second race, which was held in 1997. In 2012, Toray quit as sponsor.

According to Toray, Shanghai officials requested that the firm return to its old role this year, which will mark the 20th race. Toray agreed to become the “founding” sponsor, a second-tier position after the main sponsor, Nike Inc.

Japanese companies Seiko Holdings Corp. and YKK AP Inc. will also sponsor the marathon.

Taken from Sportbusiness