Pokhara, February 18:

Arjun Kumar Basnet won the sixth Rastriya Banijya Bank Pokhara Marathon with a record timings of 2:21:32 here on Sunday. Basnet had also won the second edition here four years earlier with the timings of 2:25:28. Basnet won Rs 40,000 for the effort.

Basnet set a new meet record surpassing previous best of 2:25:05, set in the third edition by fellow Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Ananda Man Shrestha.

Arjun Prasad Dhakal of Armed Police Force (APF) finished second at 2:25:21, ahead of Armyman Uttam Karki (2:30:44). Defending champion Rewat Bahadur Dahal of the Army club came fourth with the timings of 2:36:07. Armyman Ananda Man Shrestha, winner of the third edition here, finished fifth (2:32:53). A total of 153 athletes including five foreigners participated in the main event.

The 10th South Asian Games silver medallist, Kanchi Maya Koju claimed the women’s 10km race. Koju completed the race in 39 minutes and 50 seconds. Koju had won the SA Games 10,000m silver medal with the timings of 35:03. Chhaya Khatri of Nepal Police finished second with 41:19.

Gagan Singh Budha Ayer of APF won the men’s 10km race in 39:22, ahead of Armymen Nayendra Rai (33:37) and Aash Narayan Chaudhary of APF (34:03). Deepak Deshar of Jyotidaya Cooperative School of Kathmandu won the school-level boys’ 10km race while Sita Rimal of Baba Batika Secondary School came first in the girls’ 10km race.

Other winners included Gopi Shrestha (above 50-yrs men’s 5km race), Pravin Karki (media 5km race), Bharat Baniya (wheel chair race) and Diwas Ale (race for blinds).