Overview
- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagged off the race at Jammu’s Maulana Azad Stadium and, on Sunday, finished the 21.1 km half-marathon himself.
- The inaugural event drew more than 4,000 runners, including over 1,000 from outside the Union Territory and 90-plus international athletes, with 21 km, 10 km, and 5 km races and a Rs 1.33 crore prize pool.
- Ethiopia’s Yeneblo Biyazen Alehegn won the men’s half-marathon in 1:05:04, and Kenya’s Croline Jeruto Chesir topped the women’s field in 1:14:50, with tight finishes in both races.
- Persistent rain was the main operational test, yet runners turned out in large numbers and volunteers kept the event moving, though some roads saw traffic disruptions during the course closures.
- At a post-race ceremony, Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha framed the marathon as part of J&K’s post-2019 transformation and tourism push, as organizers touted the “Temples to Trails” theme and ministers floated plans for new stadiums that could attract major cricket events.