J&K Chief Minister flags off Kashmir Marathon with over 2,000 participants

“Efforts to make Kashmir an attractive destination for major international competitions by combining marathon sports and tourism.”

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 26 (STC): Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagged off the third edition of Kashmir Marathon from the Polo Ground here today. More than 2,000 runners from different parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir and abroad participated in this international level sports event.
The participants not only demonstrated their physical prowess, endurance and sportsmanship, but also enjoyed the unparalleled natural beauty of the Kashmir Valley. The route of the Kashmir Marathon passed through several historical, cultural and tourist attractions of Srinagar, including Lal Chowk, Polo View, Zero Bridge, Gupkar Road, Boulevard Road, the banks of the Jhelum River, Dal Lake, SKICC, Foreshore Road, Kashmir University and Mughal Gardens. Thus, the participants were given the opportunity to witness the historical heritage, beautiful water bodies and lush gardens of Srinagar along with the sports competition.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while highlighting the growing importance of the Kashmir Marathon on this occasion, said that this event is now emerging as a prominent and important sports activity, which is proving to be helpful in introducing Jammu and Kashmir as a major hub of sports tourism at the global level.
According to him, such major sporting events not only promote tourism but also increase interest in physical exercise, healthy lifestyle and sports among the youth and the general public. He stressed that such events play an important role in highlighting Kashmir’s natural beauty, historical sites and sports-friendly environment at the global level.
Notably, the Kashmir Marathon is part of the efforts to make the valley an attractive destination for major international competitions by combining sports, culture and tourism. The third edition of the Kashmir Marathon received a lot of appreciation from the country and abroad.
According to official details, a total of 1,807 online registrations were registered for the event, including 1,221 from Jammu and Kashmir, 513 from other states of the country and 73 international runners from 12 different countries. The participants included a large number of professional athletes, long-distance runners and fitness enthusiasts. The participation of athletes from different regions and countries reflects that Kashmir Marathon is strengthening its identity at the international level.
To encourage local athletes and promote the running talent present in Jammu and Kashmir, a separate prize category has also been introduced this time. The aim of this initiative is to provide more opportunities to local runners, increase their participation in sports and encourage them to showcase their talents on a bigger platform.
The inauguration of the event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atul Dallo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dhiraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshal Garg, Secretary Tourism Avni Lavasa, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad and several senior officers and other concerned officials.
(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from NNB)