Indian runner Nitendar Singh Rawat clocked 2 hours 15 minutes 18 seconds to secure gold in men's marathon completing the 42.195 km distance 15 seconds behind the long-time South Asian record held by Manandhar, who had finished the same distance in 2 hours 15 minutes 3 seconds during third edition of the games in Kolkata in 1987.
Nepali runner Bhumi Raj Rai and Khim Bahadur Khatri secured fifth and sixth positions among eight runners. Bhumi clocked 2 hours 32 minutes 21 seconds and Khim took 2 hours 39 minutes 56 seconds to complete the distance. Bhutanese and Afghan runners finished behind them. Bhumi could have won medal if he had surpassed his personal best of 2 hours 23 minutes.
Meanwhile, the marathon route of Guwahati was considered the worst in the history of SAG so far since the runners were required to move around the same lap of 10.5588 m four times.
"There are no such routes in long distance race. No such course had ever been made in SAG. The race course are to be made on open road," Nepal's athletics coach Sushil Narshinga Rana said. "Maybe, they took such decision due to traffic problem."
Experienced female runner Swarupa Khadka seconded coach Rana. One of the medal hopefuls, Swarupa, took 3 hours 12 minutes and 1 second to finish the distance. Swarupa who came from the United States of America to compete in the event said that it was the worst performance she ever had in marathon.
She also attributed that she failed to meet her own expectations. "I was hopeful of finishing the distance before three hours and I used to train in cold atmosphere (in USA). But it is hot here and I felt pain at the right side of my stomach while running, thus I failed to meet my expectations."
Swarupa spent a long time in medical center for treatment after completing the race. She was rushed to the medical center by Nepal's media persons after she fell on the track. None of the Nepali officials were seen on the track after completion of the race while the official of other teams were seen consoling their athletes.
Swarupa finished the fifth among six contenders. Pushpa Bhandari, another runner from Nepal, pulled out from the middle. This is the second time Swarupa, who has been living in the USA since long time, represented Nepal in marathon.
Kabitha Raut of India clocked 2 hours 38 minutes 38 seconds for gold.
Nepali runners have a glorious history in SAG marathon, winning five golds, four silvers and six bronze medals so far. Runner Rajendra Bhandari had claimed gold in the last edition of SAG marathon which was later declared a road race due to flaws of the host.
Before that, Baikuntha Manandhar had made hat-trick of golds from the first to the third editions. Tika Bogati claimed gold in the fifth edition in Madras.
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