By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 29: The stage is all set as more than 3000 plus runners will be taking part in the second edition of the Sohra International Half Marathon which will be held on Saturday.
The half marathon is jointly organized by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) and Meghalaya Athletics Association (MAA).
The half marathon has received recognition from World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India.
While speaking to reporters a day ahead of the event on Friday, MSOA working president, John F Kharshiing said that they have received an overwhelming response for this year’s marathon as compared to last year’s.
He informed that there are about 300 participants for the 21km marathon while there are around 700 plus participants for the 10km marathon.
MSOA working president said that there are 2000 plus people who have registered for the 5km run.
Kharshiing informed that the last year’s marathon witnessed a participation of around 700 marathoners.
He also informed that there are six international marathoners from Kenya who will be taking part in the event.The names of the six Kenyan marathoner include Ilian Rutto (female) , Elkana Kipkoech runo (male), Richard Kiprop (male), Elijah Kipruto Kemei (male), Agnes Mueni Mutua (female) and Susan Chebet (female).The MSOA working president also informed that there are 1300 school children from the 14 schools of Sohra who have spontaneously come forward to take part in the event.
When asked about the total budget earmark for the event, Kharshiing said that the expenditure for organizing the half marathon will be around Rs 1 crore since they are providing the participants with the t-shirt, transportation, breakfast, lunch among other expenditures.“At the moment, the government is taking care of the whole expenditure of the event. It will take time before we get sponsors since we will need to ensure that we are able to organize this marathon every year,” MSOA working president said.
He further informed that the MSOA is documenting the whole event which they are going to submit to the state government.
According to him, the state government will share this documentation with the various sponsors if they are keen to come forward with sponsorship in the third edition of Sohra half marathon.
Meanwhile, Kharshiing informed that there are around eight to nine villages who will help with more than 650 volunteers to help in organizing the event.
The MSOA president said that the people of Sohra are expressing their eagerness to be part of this event since they are benefitting from it in various ways.
AFI Chief Technical Official, G Krishnan said that he is happy with the preparation since there is vast improvement as compared to the first edition held last year.
He however suggested if the name of Cherrapunjee can be use to popularize this marathon since not many people know about Sohra.
MSOA working president also admitted that many are not aware about Sohra or even Meghalaya.
“I was thinking that people will be aware of the festivals which we have been organizing to promote the state. But majority of them are asking where is Sohra or Meghalaya,” he added.
It may be mentioned that the half marathon is divided into different categories, including an elite group for both men and women, Meghalaya-specific categories, a race for ages 45 to 55, a category for those above 55, and a fun run for all to enjoy.
Winners of the elite half marathon category (above 18 years) will each receive Rs 1 lakh in prize money. Winners of the Meghalaya open half marathon category (above 18 years) will each receive Rs 50,000 and those of the Meghalaya open 10km race (below 45 years) Rs 30,000. The 45-55 and 55-plus age category races will each be of 10km and the winners will each receive Rs 20,000.
Second- and third-placed finishers will also receive cash prizes, along with consolation prizes for other runners up to eighth place (up to ninth in the Meghalaya open half marathon category).
Total prize money amounts to Rs 11.7 lakh. Every participant who completes the race will get a free t-shirt and a medal. The first 200 finishers under 14 years old will also receive a special gift.
2500 runners register for Tawang run
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is all set to host the North East region’s first-ever high-altitude marathon on Sunday with around 2,500 participants from across the country and abroad registering for one of India’s most challenging routes in its maiden year.
The event, being held in the town set at 10,000 feet above mean sea level, has over 500 women among its registered participants.
The marathon is being jointly organised by the Indian Army and the Arunachal Pradesh government, in consultation with and support from CYRUNS Sport LLP, a professional sports event management firm.
This will be the first-ever high-altitude marathon in the North East region and arguably the most challenging one in the nation, the organisers claimed.
They said the registrations closed on September 18, with participants representing 25 states to race at the event.
There are more than 550 women participants in the Tawang Marathon, they added.(with inputs from PTI)