Makawanpur, November 17

Tribhuvan Army Club’s Rajan Khatri won the first National Marathon Competition held under the Sports and Business Festival that kicked off in Hetauda on Thursday.

Khatri clocked two hours, 31 minutes and 42 seconds to win the gold medal.  His TAC clubmate Nawaraj Saud came second with a atiming of two hours, 34 minutes and 12 seconds, while Nepal APF Club’s Jitendra Rai was third in two hours, 38 minutes and 47 seconds. The top three athletes took home Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.

Similarly, the only foreign participant Gatiya Peter of Kenya finished on fourth position by clocking two hours, 41 minutes and 56 seconds, while Bibek Chepang of Chitwan, the first marathon runner from Chepang community, took three hours, 31 minutes and 27 seconds to finish fifth. Peter and Chepang received Rs 5,000 each.

A total of 250 marathoners took part in the competition organised for the first time in Hetauda. Suman Bhomjan Memorial Sports Foundation is organising the festival to promote sports and journalism in the district.

The festival, which also features taekwondo. Kabbadi, weightlifting and volleyball events, will conclude on November 27.