KATHMANDU, April 5: The fourth edition of the Manjushree Trail Race has commenced, highlighting sports tourism. The 100-mile race began from Single Tree Hill in Ichangunarayan at 8 AM on Friday.

A total of 324 runners from 16 countries, including Nepal, are participating in various stages of the race on Friday and Saturday, with 40 international runners among them. The field consists of 289 male and 35 female competitors. Eighteen runners, including four women, are taking on the 100-mile challenge across different stages.

Subhash Thapa, president of the Manjushree Trail Race, mentioned that participants hail from Nepal, China, Singapore, the UK, Denmark, India, Belarus, and Indonesia in this edition.

Elite trail athletes such as Priya Rai, Masafumi Yamato, Man Kumar Roka Magar, Arjun Kulung Rai, Nick Pilapil, Sophie Saranya Mahakanok, and others are competing for being crowned the 2024 lady/lord of the Rim. Internationally renowned MC Sophie is also among the participants.

The course will take runners through seven major hills surrounding the Kathmandu Valley: Jamacho, Shivapuri, Nagarkot, Phulchowki, Champadevi, Bhasmasur, and Chandragiri.

"This race is akin to climbing Mount Everest in terms of elevation gain," stated Rashila Tamang, the Asia Trail Master Champion. "Participants in the 100-mile Manjushree Trail Race will ascend and descend various hills, accumulating a total elevation gain of 12,695 meters."

Additionally, the 100 km race will start tonight at 8 PM from Jhule, and tomorrow, Saturday, at 7 AM, the 50 km race will commence from Badikhel. The 30 km KVR stage race of Trailmandu, associated with the Manjushree trail race, is scheduled to begin from Dollu in Pharping at 8 AM on Saturday.

This race marks the final match of the five-stage Trailmandu series, with 100 runners participating. Thapa also mentioned that the 10 km race will start from the Kalupande Hill and finish at the Single Tree.

This edition is recognized as a selection event for the Asia Trail Masters, according to Thapa.

Asia Trail Masters is an internationally recognized series of trail races in Asia, organized by Kuai Sports Promotions Limited in Hong Kong. It is also an annual championship featuring a transparent and straightforward points system. Furthermore, the Grandmaster Quest offers equal opportunities to runners across all categories.

According to the organizers, the season concludes with an "ATM Final," where the ultimate winner is crowned. Now in its eighth year, the series will include 30 races across 12 to 15 Asian countries, with key events in Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

According to Thapa, a special 2 km race is being organized on Saturday to make the event more inclusive. This segment will feature a race for differently-abled boys and girls, organized in collaboration with the Nepal Down’s Syndrome Society. Twenty athletes are participating in it.

Winners of the 170 km race will receive cash prizes of Rs 60,000, Rs 40,000, and Rs 20,000 for first, second, and third places, respectively. In the 100 km category, the prizes are Rs 40,000, Rs 25,000, and Rs 15,000, and for the 50 km race, Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000, and Rs 10,000. Similarly, the KVR 100 stage race winners will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000, and Rs 5,000 along with medals and certificates.

President Thapa also mentioned that in this edition, players who finish within the top five positions in the two races recognized by Asia Trail Master (Manjushree Trail Race and Jumla Rara Ultra Marathon in Nepal) automatically qualify for the Asia Trail Masters. He stated that these players can then compete in the ATM final race scheduled for September 14 in Malaysia.

 
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