Kathmandu, February 10

Krishna Basnet of Tribhuvan Army Club won the title of the CoAS Open Marathon here today.

The Sher Battalion athlete completed the 42.195km race in two hours, 22 minutes and 52 seconds. Basnet received Rs 100,000 along with a 160cc Pulsar motorbike sponsored by Hansaraj Hulaschand and Co Pvt Ltd.

Gopi Chand Parki came second with the timing of 2:25:37, while Rajan Khatri of TAC was third in 2:29:12, followed by Armymen Khadka Bahadur Khadka (2:29:50) and Khagendra Bhat (2:33:19). The second to fifth placed athletes received Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 7,000 respectively.

Army athletes clean swept men’s half marathon. In a highly competitive race for above-45 athletes, Gajendra Raj Rai finished first with the timing of one hour and 10 minutes, while Ramji Basnet was second in 1:10:02 and Kalyan Baniya came third in 1:10:03.

In women’s below-45 section, TAC athlete Bishwo Rupa Budha won the title with the timing of one hour, 19 minutes and 05 seconds, while her teammate Reshu Basnet was a distant second in 1:22:43 and Bindra Shrestha of APF was third in 1:23:06. Top three athletes in half marathon received Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

In men’s above-45 half marathon, Gajendra Budha Magar won the title in 1:17:58, followed by Bhim Bahadur Gurung (1:24:25) and Kapil Bhatta (1:34:50). Top three athletes earned Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.

In the 10km race for Army officers, Lt Rukesh Nepali claimed the men’s section title, followed by Capt Bhupal Adhikari and Maj Madhu Thapa. In women’s category, Lt Karishma Pradhan Kumal, Capt Mina Kumari Basnet and Lt Rekha Adhikari claimed the top three positions respectively.

Likewise, Simon Castro Wilrich of Britain won the 10km race for foreigners, while Aaron Durhom of British Army was second and Xu Sirui of China MBC came third. In the 5km race for students, Surestha Thapa Magar of Sainik Awasiya Mahavidhyalaya came first in 18 minutes and 44.60 seconds, while his teammate Ishwor Chandra Basnet was second in 18:50.61 and Samjhana Academy’s Krishna Tamang finished third in 19:50.47. In girls’ section, Kajal Bista of Megha National College finished first in 23:02.22, followed by Bijeshowri Gyan Mandir duo Sunita Shrestha (24:01.57) and Swechhya Balami Magar (24:39.53).

A total of 3190 atheletes  took part in the event organised by Nepali Army with the theme of ‘United we stand-come stand with us’.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Rajendra Chhetri and Nepalese Army Wives Association President Rita Chhetri handed over the prizes to the winners. Meanwhile, four Olympians — athletes Arjun Basnet, Saraswoti Bhattarai and Hari Kumar Rimal and weightlifter Kamal Bahadur Adhikari — were felicitated during the closing ceremony. Gen Chhetri handed over Rs 21,100 each along with felicitation letter and shawls to the TAC players.