KATHMANDU: The Real third Kathmandu Marathon is scheduled for September 12, organisers Nepal Marathon Pvt Ltd announced here today.

The event includes full and half marathon, 5km open race and 3km Wheel Chair races in both men and women categories. A 5km race for boys and girls are also included in the marathon.

The winner of men’s full marathon will receive a purse of $5,000 while the first runner up will take home $3,000 and second runner up will bag $1,500 respectively. The Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Uttam Khatri had won the event last year ahead of fellow club-mate Arjun Basnet and Nepal APF Club’s Arjun Dhakal.

In women’s full marathon, the top three finishers will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. The top 10 in marathon have been assured

of cash prizes. The half marathon winners in both

categories will be awarded

with Rs 50,000 while the second and third position holders will receive Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

The organisers, who last year were criticised over the weak management, vowed to come strong this time around and organise the event successfully. “Keeping the past hullabaloos at bay, we are looking forward to make this event a grand success leaving no stone unturned,” said Nilendra Shrestha, president of the Nepal Marathon Pvt Ltd.

The event which marks approximately two million rupees in the cash prizes, will also give away Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 to top three finishers of 5km race in men and women categories respectively. Likewise, top three finishers in 5km school race and wheel chair race will earn Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.

The organisers have expected around 10,000 participants in the event which will also see athletes from abroad. “We have been confirmed of four participants from Canada, two from America and a group from India. We have also corresponded with the athletes in Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco but we’re not confirmed of their participations,” Shrestha said.

Meanwhile, Nilendra Shrestha, President of Nepal Marathon Pvt Ltd and Kashyap Shakya, Assistant Manager, Product, of Dabur Nepal

Pvt Ltd signed the memorandum of understanding for the event. As per the agreement, the main sponsors will provide the cash prize of Rs 1.9 million to the organisers.

The marathon will start from Tripureshwor and go through Maharajgunj, a round of Ring Road and enter the city from Maharajgunj before culminating at the Dasharath Stadium.