Srinagar: As many as 1,807 athletes, including 73 international runners from 12 countries, have registered for the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon scheduled for October 25, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announcing special prizes for local participants to encourage long-distance running in Jammu and Kashmir.
Inaugurating the Kashmir Marathon Expo at Polo Grounds in Srinagar, Omar invited athletes from across the country to participate in the event, emphasising that participation was more important than winning.
“Winning is not as important as participating. Take part and enjoy this marathon,” he told reporters, adding that spot registrations remained open for those who had missed the online registration deadline.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said 1,807 participants had registered online so far, including 1,221 local runners, 513 from other parts of India and 73 foreign athletes representing 12 countries.
Of the registered participants, 1,416 have opted for the 21-kilometre half marathon and 391 for the 42-kilometre full marathon. The registrations include 1,614 men and 193 women.
“We expect the total number of participants to cross 2,000 this year,” Sajjad said, adding that the event would help promote Kashmir internationally as a safe and attractive sports tourism destination.
The Chief Minister said special prizes had been introduced for local runners following their requests to encourage participation in both race categories.
Highlighting the scenic appeal of the event, Omar said Kashmir’s natural beauty and surroundings made the marathon unique, while its prize money was significantly higher than that offered by many similar events elsewhere.
He said he would not participate in this year’s marathon, unlike the previous two editions, but would flag off Sunday’s race.
The Tourism Department said the marathon had been included in its annual calendar to ensure continuity and promote Kashmir as an international sporting destination.
The Marathon Expo features 20 stalls, while the race routes will showcase some of Srinagar’s most picturesque locations, including Dal Lake, chinar-lined roads and stretches near the Mughal gardens.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also chaired a meeting in Anantnag district to review developmental projects, public service delivery and winter preparedness.
During the meeting, Omar directed departments to accelerate ongoing infrastructure projects, strengthen LPG buffer stocks ahead of winter and ensure timely resolution of public grievances.
He reviewed the functioning of health, education, roads, power, rural development, food and civil supplies and youth empowerment departments.
The Chief Minister also instructed officials to expedite industrial estate development, streamline social welfare assistance and improve the physical and financial progress of key government schemes.
He directed banks to speed up loan disbursements under Mission YUVA to help local youth establish their own enterprises.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary, ministers Javed Rana, Javed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, legislators from Anantnag district and senior government officials attended the meeting.
