KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20 Nepali trail runners Man Kumar Magar and Ram Maya Budha secured major victories at the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) in Sapa, Vietnam, winning the men's 100km and women's 50km titles respectively. Magar produced a standout performance in the 100km World Trail Majors race, finishing in 11 hours 42 minutes 37 seconds and setting a new course record, according to World Trail Majors. In the women's 50km Short Series race, Budha dominated from the early stages and maintained her lead to the finish line, securing the title in commanding fashion.

Held from September 17 to 20, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon attracted more than 5,300 runners from 54 nationalities. The demanding 100km race featured an elevation gain of 5,500 metres, while the 50km event included 2,800 metres of elevation gain. Established in 2013, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon is one of the country's premier ultra-trail events, taking runners through the rugged mountain landscapes, rice terraces and ethnic villages surrounding Sapa in northern Vietnam. The VMM 100km race is included in the World Trail Majors, a non-profit alliance of 10 leading trail-running races worldwide, while the 50km event forms part of the series' Short Series competition. The victories add to Nepal's growing reputation in international trail running, with Nepali athletes continuing to excel in endurance races across Asia and beyond.