Rai, Paudel clinch golds

Biratnagar, October 17

Nepal Police Club’s Bhumi Raj Rai and Nepal APF Club’s Pushpa Bhandari won the marathon titles of the 41st National Athletics under the seventh National Games in Biratnagar on Saturday.

Defending champion Rai completed the 42.195km race in two hours, 31 minutes and 03 seconds, to finish ahead of Nepal APF Club duo Khim Bahadur Khatri of (2:38:24) and Dan Bahadur Dhami (2:40:47) in men’s section.

In women’s section, Bhandari completed the distance in three hours, 22 minutes and 51 seconds, while defending champion Sonu Jaya Rai of APF, who was a distant second in 3:33:13 and Bishnu Maya Budha of Mid-western Region finished third in 3:53:53.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Kesab Kumar Bista, Secretary at Ministry of Youth and Sports Dipendra Nath Sharma and Joint-secretary Chuda Mani Paudel gave away the prizes. A total of 20 athletes, 13 in men’s section and seven in women’s category, participated in the race.