TAWANG, 24 Oct: Altogether 4,500 runners from across the country participated in the fourth edition of the Tawang Marathon, one of Arunachal Pradesh' most prominent high-altitude sporting events, which was conducted here on Saturday.
The event brought together athletes, fitness enthusiasts, members of the armed forces and local communities in a grand celebration of sportsmanship, endurance, discipline and national unity against the breathtaking backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas.
Organised with the objective of promoting fitness, adventure sports and tourism, the marathon featured four race categories - 5 km, 10 km, 21 km half marathon, and 42 km full marathon, attracting participants of diverse age groups and athletic backgrounds.
The 42-km full marathon runners were flagged off at 5:30 am by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kento Jini from the Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High Altitude Sports Stadium, in the presence of MLAs Tsering Lhamu and Namgey Tsering, Gajraj Corps GOC Lieutenant General Neeraj Shukla, Sports & Youth Affairs Secretary Abu Tayeng, Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo, ZPC Leki Gombu, and others.
Runners across all four categories were flagged off amid tremendous enthusiasm, reflecting the growing popularity of the Tawang Marathon as a major sporting attraction in the region.
Following the flag-off ceremonies, a vibrant cultural programme featuring folk artists and personnel of the Indian Army captivated the gathering. The performances showcased the rich cultural traditions of the region and highlighted the spirit of camaraderie between the armed forces and the local population.
Addressing the gathering, Bollywood actor Amit Sial appreciated the initiative behind the Tawang Marathon and admired the district's spectacular natural beauty.
Jini commended the district administration, the Indian Army and the entire organising team for the successful conduct of Tawang Marathon 4.0. He described the marathon as a celebration of fitness, discipline, determination, unity and national pride, emphasising that sporting events of this scale inspire young people to embrace healthy lifestyles and develop perseverance and resilience.
He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his unwavering commitment to transforming Arunachal Pradesh into a vibrant sporting state, observing that, under the chief minister's leadership, sports infrastructure and local sporting talent are receiving renewed attention and encouragement.
Highlighting the significance of hosting a marathon in Tawang's challenging high-altitude environment, the minister said that the event demonstrated the district's immense potential as a destination for adventure sports and major national and international sporting events.
He emphasised that, while winning medals is important, the values of discipline, character, resilience and sportsmanship are even more significant, particularly in shaping the personality and future of young people.
The provisional results of the marathon were announced during the event, and the winners in the respective categories were felicitated with trophies, mementoes and symbolic cheques in recognition of their outstanding performances.
Provisional results:
42 km full marathon (female): Binita Kami - 3:53:31; Samjana Subba - 3:59:33; and Dakahi Kyndait - 4:08:31.
42 km full marathon (male): Anish Thapa Mager - 2:38:51; Mukesh Kumar - 2:42:41; and Nikhil Santosh Singh - 2:49:46.
21 km half marathon (female): Anjuli Subba - 1:35:07; Munni - 1:36:00; and Pooja Verma - 1:37:03.
21 km half marathon (male): Raghunandan Singh Kumanya - 1:16:53;
Arif Ali - 1:18:46; and Anand Singh Rawat 1:18:56.
10 km run (female): Neha Patil - 48:35;
Jidalin Tympu - 48:51; and Anamika Devi - 51:04.
10 km run (male): Jeevan Singh - 35:56; Sanjay Singh - 36:22; and Bhanu Pratap - 36:37.
5 km run (female): Khushboo Nishad - 26:15; Amisha Sharma - 27:28; and Nima Rema - 27:29.
5 km run (male): Gopal Singh Lamgariya - 18:15; Akash - 18:36; and Deepak Bisht - 18:47.
The organisers clarified that the results announced are provisional and remain subject to further scrutiny and verification. (DIPRO)
