The event will feature men´s and women´s marathon, half marathon and 5-km open race, school and wheelchair races, according to Nilendra Shrestha, the president of Nepal Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA).[break]
The organizers said they expect about 3,500 athletes, including 150 each in marathon and half marathon, from 22 countries to participate in the event. According to Shrestha, they have already received applications from 16 foreign athletes.
"Athletes from 20 countries had participated in the previous edition, and we are expecting participation from 22 nations in this edition," said Shrestha.
The top three athletes in both men´s and women´s marathon will be awarded with cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. Other players finishing in the top 10 will also be awarded with cash prizes. The top three runners in half marathon will be awarded Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
The winners of other categories -- 5-km open road race, school and wheelchair races -- will also receive cash prizes. The top three finishers in both the men´s and women´s 5-km open race will receive Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The total cash prize of the event is Rs 746,000.
Nepal Army Club athlete Rajendra Bhandari and Krishneshwari Sintakala of Nepal Armed Police Force Club had won the men´s and women´s marathon respectively in the previous edition.
According to Sushil Narsingh Rana, the chief athletics coach of National Sports Council, the event will also serve as the preliminary selection for the 13th South Asian Games. "We have asked all interested athletes to participate in the event as it will also serve as a selection for SAG," Rana said, adding that new faces may be included in the Mission SAG training camp after the event.
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