OKHALDHUNGA: Okhaldhunga Tourism Development Committee in association with Nepal Tourism Board and Khijidemba Rural Municipality successfully organised an ultra-marathon covering the distance of 42 kilometres on the lap of Pikey Peak in the Mt Everest region.
According to Ngawa Ngima Sherpa, chairman of Okhaldhunga Tourism Development Committee, Suman Kulung Rai of Solukhumbu won the ultra trail race under male category, completing the trail race in 3 hours and 49 minutes. Similarly, in the women's category, Sunmaya Budha from Jumla bagged the first prize winning the race in 4 hours and 41 minutes. Tirtha Tamang from Bhojpur (3 hours, 50 minutes) and Arjun Kulung Rai of Solukhumbu (3 hours, 55 minutes) and Mohan Dev Joshi from Baitadi (4 hours and 8 minutes) stood second, third and fourth in male category respectively. Manju Rawat from Jumla stood second completing the race in 5 hours and 11 minutes while Priya Rai of Khotang and Nitu Tamang of Sindhupalchowk stood second and third in women's category making it in 5 hours, 11 minutes and 3 seconds and 5 hours and 19 minutes respectively.
Among local racers from Okhaldhunga, KIrti Rai (4 hours, 18 minutes), Rabindra Tamang (4 hours 19 minutes and Devraj Sunuwa r and Prithilal Rai (4 hrs, 33 minutes each) bagged the first, second and third position under male category while female racers Padam Kumari Sunuwar (5 hrs, 33 minutes and 1 second), Hirumaya Bhujel ( 6 hours and 19 minutes) and Anita Sunuwar ( 6 hours and 29 minutes) bagged the first, second third prize respectively.
"The top three athletes in both men and women categories received Rs 70,000, Rs 55,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively," Sherpa shared. There were 58 athletes including one each from the KU and Kenya. The route of the race follows the beautiful pastures between Pikey Peak (4,200 m) and Demba (3,150 m) then runs down to Chuplung Banjhyang (2,600 m), with the finishing point in Khijipalathe (2,500 m).
According to Gambu Sherpa, the ultra-marathon was organised in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board to promote the adventure sports in the Pikey region. "The marathon aims to promote adventure tourism along the Pikey region that adjoins Solukhumbu and Okhaldhunga districts," Sherpa said. The trail race is not just a running event, but it is truly a once in a lifetime experience where the OTDC will support the local community by organising various kinds of programmes such as a health camp, education, awareness programmes for the public, and home-stay programme, he shared.
It was a pleasant race along the open narrow strip of pasture land sandwiched between a forest of rhododendrons and coniferous plants, participants said. Pikey region has great adventure tourism potential and numerous mountains including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Gaurishankar and Makalu can also be viewed from the Pikey peak, Sherpa said, adding that the marathon would be helpful to promote the lower belt of Mt Everest region nationally and internationally.
