SHILLONG: Sports Minister, Baneteidor Lyngdoh believes that Shillong apart from being the rock capital of the country can also become the sports capital of India.
Speaking at a programme to officially announce Rotary Sohra Marathon here on Monday, Lyngdoh also assured to support the initiative saying sports and music can go together.
“The initiative would also promote eco-tourism in Sohra,” he said
The marathon will be held on August 25 and the initiative apart from developing tourism and sports in Sohra is primarily aimed at supporting the children of Saitsohpen area by providing them with school supplies, backpacks raincoats etc., and the marathon would also promote and identify potential sportspersons through the Sports Skill Development programme.
Chairman of the Marathon Committee, Kailash Verma earlier said that to increase the number of participants, they would also have a lucky draw where the first prize will be a Maruti Celerio and the second prize will be a Pulsar 150 motorcycle.
“This will be run in the wettest place on each and for this reason, it will be a world record creating marathon,” Verma said while informing that Limca Book of Records have agreed to adjudicate the marathon
The marathon will consist of full marathon (42 km), half marathon (21), a 10 km run and a 5 km fun run.
It is expected that around 1500-3000 participants from across the country will participate in the events and hence it would attract large number of tourism besides the marathon would create a culture of running and fitness.
Local MLA Gavin Miguel Mylliem who was also present on the occasion assured his full cooperation to the marathon while pointing out that there are lot of runners who can bring laurels for the State and the North East region