Positive change, says L-G as 1,100 take part in Kashmir Marathon

At least 1,100 participants from 27 states and Union Territories and 77 foreigners from 11 countries took part in Kashmir Marathon 2.0 that was held on Sunday in Srinagar.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty flagged off the marathon at 6 am from Polo View, Srinagar, with participants running along the scenic Boulevard Road overlooking Dal Lake.

The marathon was organised by the Department of Tourism, Kashmir, in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council and featured multiple categories like the full and half marathon — 42 km and 21 km respectively. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated the winners of the marathon.

Addressing the participants, marathon enthusiasts and officials, the Lieutenant Governor said that the soaring spirit of 1,100 runners is a testament to marathon’s ability to unite them and strengthen the brotherhood through shared experiences.

“Within two years since its launch, Kashmir Marathon has become one of the most prestigious running tournaments in the country. It has infused a sense of pride and passion among the people and inspired a new generation of runners. I am confident that in the near future, the Kashmir Marathon will boost further interest and participation and it will be a major economic catalyst for our tourism sector,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Emphasising the importance of Kashmir Marathon and “significant transformation achieved by J&K UT since 2019”, the Lieutenant Governor told the international participants that a positive change has been brought to the UT.

“Jammu and Kashmir is a crown jewel of India with rich heritage and vibrant culture. It is a paradise on Earth known for its natural beauty and ageless ideals of humanism, communal harmony and peace. I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historical transformation in this land to build a Jammu-Kashmir which harmonies modernity and spirituality and today, it is moving forward with unwavering passion and resolution,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He also called upon the people of J&K to utilise the opportunities Kashmir Marathon is offering to showcase the UT’s potential to the world.

“Let us use this international event to showcase our priceless cultural heritage, arts and crafts and our unique traditions. Let this great running spectacle become a powerful medium for highlighting and showcasing the change and our achievements. Let us use this event to project our handicraft, handloom and tourism sector on the global stage,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg; DIG Central Kashmir Range, Rajiv Pandey; SSP Srinagar, Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo and senior officials of civil

and police administration were present.