1 week Ago By Shivani
Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opened the Kashmir Marathon on Sunday. Over 2,000 athletes from 13 countries participated in the event, which marked the first international athletic program in the valley. Abdullah, who took oath as the new J&K Chief Minister last week, recorded a personal milestone by completing a half-marathon (21 kilometres) in just 2 hours.
The 54-year-old took X and shared how he participated in the run without any training or plan and ran at an average pace of 5.54 minutes per kilometre. He wrote, "I’ve never run more than 13 KM in my life, and that too only ever once.
Today I just kept going, propelled by the enthusiasm of other amateur runners like myself. No proper training, no running plan, no nutrition. Picked up a banana and a couple of khajoor along the way.
The best part was running past my home with family and others out to cheer me on." Just before the start of the marathon, Abdullah shared that he believes the Kashmir Marathon will become one of the top athletic events in the world in the coming years. He told PTI: "I am thankful to the people of Srinagar for the way they came out to encourage the runners.
I hope that the Kashmir Marathon becomes one of the top events in the world." Around 35 local athletes participated, along with 58 international runners from 13 countries, including top long-distance runners from India, Asian gold medallists, and some of the best runners from Europe and Africa. The marathon is organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department to showcase Kashmir as a peaceful destination capable of hosting international events.
Director of Tourism, Raja Yaqoob, said, "The message of this marathon is that Kashmir is peaceful and open for global events. He further said, "These athletes will become our brand ambassadors, promoting our cuisine, Pashmina, and more." A first-time Danish athlete shared her appreciation for Srinagar’s scenic beauty and the warmth of its people.
Sunita, leading a group of 45 elite Indian athletes, emphasised the high prize money and the upcoming tour of Gulmarg as key highlights of the event. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from India and around the world..
