Around 7000 runners from across India and abroad took part in the first-ever Northeast Half Marathon, which was flagged off on Sunday at Northeast Frontier Railway Sports Association (NFRSA) Stadium, Maligaon.
The marathon was flagged off in presence of Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sports & Youth Affairs; GP Singh, DGP Assam; Anshul Gupta, general manager of NFR, and Tarun Khulbe, director of Jindal Stainless, and other dignitaries.
NFR in partnership with Jindal Stainless, a leading stainless steel manufacturer, is organising a series of half marathons in the North-eastern states, with the aim to empower the sportspersons and development of sporting activity in Northeast India, NFR in an update stated.
Participants competed in three different race categories - 21 km, 10 km and 5 km - for both for men and women.
In the 21 km race, Paul Eyanae from Kenya won the men’s race and Chernet, also from Ethiopia, won in the women’s race. Indian runner Neetu Kumari bagged third position in women’s race.
The winners of all the categories were awarded prize money, medals and certificates.
The second event of the half marathon series is scheduled to be organised at Darjeeling on February 26, followed by third at Tawang on March 12.
“The NE Half Marathon would highlight all states of Northeast India as one entity and would surely catapult the complete Northeast Region of India into limelight at both national and international platforms,” the update stated.
A website related to the Northeast Half Marathon is designed for online registration. The aspirant participants can visit http://www.nehalfmarathon.com/ and all the social media platforms of NFR for accessing details about upcoming events of the series.