Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, February 18:

Akkal Bahadur Bohara of Armed Police Force (APF) won the fourth Rashtriya Banijya Bank Pokhara International Marathon, finishing the 42.195-km distance in two hours and 31 minutes. Bohara, a participant at the International Marathon in Korea and the runner-up at the Everest Marathon, also won the 10-km race at the third Pokhara Marathon held last year. Tshering Lama of Nepal Police claimed the second spot finishing in two hours, 37 minutes and 59 seconds and Yam Narayan Shrestha of Nepal Police came third (2:45:36). Lama came third at the third edition of the event last year.

Local Shankar Shah, however finished fourth at the event but claimed the top local runner title. Shah, who was the runner-up at the 10-km race of the third Pokhara Marathon, finished the distance in two hours and 46 minutes. In 10-km Open race, Dinesh Bahadur Rayamajhi (36:46), Narayan Sharma (36:57) and Hari Gurung (37:05) claimed the top three spots. While Yangdi Lama Sherpa (48 minutes) finished first, Sevin Ewitti of Switzerland (1 hour) came second and Dhan Devi (1:03:30) was third in 10,000m Open women’s race.

While Ramesh Joshi (31:32), Aman Karki (40:55) and Basanta Lal Diwakar (41:50) grabbed the top three spots in boy’s 10-km race, Sunita Gautam (49:35), Dil Kumari Pun (49:50) and Rupa Pun (51:51) did so in girls’ section.

Tribhuvan Army Club’s Ananda Man Shrestha holds the marathon record with timing two hours, 25 minutes and five seconds. The event was participated in by around 5,000 runners.

Ktm Marathon

KATHMANDU:

Arjun Prasad Dhakal, a 29-year-old APF runner, finished the 42.195-km race in two hours, 36 minutes and 49 seconds and won the $750 Toyota Kathmandu International Marathon in below 35 category, today. While Ramesh Dhoju came second, Jyam Tamang finished third with the timing 3:09:17 and 3:41:04 respectively.

Andy Cooper (2:45:45) won the race in 35 years and above categry.

In women’s section (18-35 years), Regine Scheuer came first in three hours 43 minutes and 48 seconds, followed by Sarah Parfitt and Cindy McAlpine grabbing second and the third spot respectively. Elizabeth Sabastine (5:23:39) won women’s above 35 category.

Jagannath Bista (1:13:15), Yuwaraj Adhikari (1:18:42) and Bhimsen Awale (1:22:34) claimed the top three spots in men’s half marathon. Also, Xavier Crasull (1:27:05) and Nirmala Bharati (1:27:05) won men’s above 35 and women’s above 35 category of half marathon.

While Kanchi Maya Koju (39:30), Bishnu Kafle (43:17) and Dolma Pokharel (49:10) claimed the top three spots in 10-km women’s race, Gagan Singh (34:19:23), Lok Bahadur Rokaya (34:50:99) and Amar Bahadur Shahi (34:51:49) did so in men’s section. Rakesh Maharjan finished the five-km race first with timing 17:14 whereas Khyam Gaihre came second in 24:10. Meanwhile, Dang Nima Sherpa claimed that he finished the 42.195-km race in three hours and four minutes, before Ramesh Dhoju. He said, “Even the pathfinders and the traffic police standing on the way have seen me crossing the finishing point before Dhoju. I am going to claim the second place with the organisers.” Sherpa won the Everest Marathon last year.