Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday flagged off the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon from Polo Ground here.
Over 2,000 runners from Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of the country and abroad came together for a celebration of endurance, sporting spirit and Kashmir’s unparalleled natural beauty, an official press release said.
Amid the October chill of a crisp autumn morning, the chief minister flagged off the Full Marathon (42.195 km) at 6:30 am, followed by the Half Marathon (21 km) at 7:45 am.
The marathon run took participants through some of Srinagar’s most iconic landmarks, including Lal Chowk, Polo View, Zero Bridge, Gupkar Road, Boulevard, the Jhelum riverfront, Dal Lake, SKICC, Foreshore Road, Kashmir University and the Mughal Gardens.
The chief minister emphasized that the Kashmir Marathon is emerging as a flagship sporting event, strengthening Jammu & Kashmir’s position as a global sports tourism destination, boosting tourism and inspiring a culture of fitness and healthy living across the region.
With runners traversing the city’s historic streets, picturesque waterfronts and celebrated gardens, the marathon offers a unique blend of competitive sport, cultural vibrancy and the Valley’s breathtaking landscape, further strengthening Kashmir’s profile as a destination for major sporting events, the press release said.
It said the event attracted registrations from across geographical boundaries, reflecting its growing appeal among professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts and long-distance runners. The marathon recorded 1,807 online registrations, including 1,221 participants from Jammu and Kashmir, 513 from other states and 73 international runners representing 12 countries. With spot registrations, total participation crossed the 2,000 mark.
The third edition carried a total prize purse of ₹3.17 crore, with the winner in the open category receiving ₹25 lakh.
The chief minister had earlier inaugurated the three-day Marathon Expo at Polo View on October 22.
In a significant step towards nurturing home-grown sporting talent, a separate prize category was also introduced for runners from Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative aims to encourage local athletes, widen participation and create greater opportunities for runners from J&K to compete and excel on a larger platform.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Secretary Tourism Avny Lavasa, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad, and other senior officers and officials were present on the occasion.
