Rai wins marathon

Nepalgunj, November 24

Nepal Police Club athlete Bhumi Raj Rai won the title of the fourth Nepalgunj Marathon, while Kanchhi Maya Koju led the APF clean sweep in women’s half marathon here today.

Rai completed the 42.195km distance in two hours, 33 minutes and 20 seconds to finish first in his first appearance in the event organised by Creative Hands. Along with the title, Rai received cash purse of Rs 60,000.

In an event which started and ended at the BP Chowk after going through Kohalpur and Kaushilanagar, APF athlete Khim Bahadur Khatri finished second in 2:35:32, while his teammate Ganesh Thakuri came third in 2:47:28. Khatri and Thakuri earned Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.

Bal Bahadur Sunar of Bardiya, NPC athletes Bhim Bahadur Rokaya, Pramod Khadka and Gopal Budha, and Mori Gyanruk of Banke finished from fourth to eighth and they earned Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000, Rs 7,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.

In women’s section race which was held over 21km, veteran APF athlete Koju finished first with the timing of one hour, 22 minutes and 42 seconds. Her teammates Brinda Shrestha (1:25:44) and Krishnaswori Sintakala (1:31:45) took second and third spots. The top three athletes got Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Kanchan Pun Magar, Battisara Bam and Anju Malla were fourth to sixth and they got Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.

In men’s 5km race, Naresh Budha of Jumla came first in 16 minutes and 35 seconds, while Madhav Chaudhary and Santosh Nath Yogi were second and third respectively. In women’s section, Mangala Budha of Kalikot finished first in 19:49 followed by Anisha Chaudhary and Sumitra Chaudhary. Top three athletes in the event got Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively. Pradeep Pandey won the one-km walkathon event which was added from this edition.

Meanwhile, the organisers Creative Hands honoured Olympian and world record holder high altitude marathon runner Hari Bahadur Rokaya for his effortless contribution in Nepali athletics.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista, Deputy Mayor of Nepalgunj Submetropolis Dhawal Shumser Rana, President of Western Regional Sports Development Committee Bhim Oli, former national cricket team skipper LB Chhetri, General Secretary of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum Prakash Timalsina, Sahas Sports Managing Director Janak Neupane and Creative Hands President TS Thakuri handed over the prizes to the winners.