Organizing a press conference at the Army Headquarters on Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Ramkaji Rana Magar said that the event shall feature five different categories of races -- men's marathon, men's and women's half marathon, 10 km men's and women's race for army officers and foreigners, 5 km race for students and 5 km walkathon."We are organizing the marathon with the view to strengthen the relationship between military and civilians, to contribute for the development of sports and to expand relationship with various departments and organizations," said Rana Magar.
According to Nepal Army, a total of 2,856 individual shall participate in the overall events including 230 runners in marathon, 718 (male and female) runners in half marathon, 327 (male and female) in 10 km race, 1,081(boys and girls) in 5 km race for students and 500 in walkathon.
The marathon will start from Army Headquarters and take the route of Thapathali, New Baneshwar, Koteshwar, Salla Ghari, Jagate, Madhyapur, Pepsi Cola, Jadibuti, Koteshwar, Sinamangal, Gaushala, Sukedhara, Narayan Gopal Chowk, Maharajgunj, Lazimpat, Ghantaghar and Old Buspark before finishing at the same point.
The top six finishers in men's marathon will be awarded with cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. In addition to the cash prize, the winner of the marathon will also be rewarded with a motorbike and Samsung mobile.
Similarly, the winner, runner-up and second runner-up in men's and women's half marathons will bag purse of Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
The winner of 5 km race will also be awarded with cash prizes while the winner of other categories will receive gift hampers.
Veterans to be awarded lifetime achievement award
Nepal Army has also declared to provide life time achievement awards to veteran marathon runners of Nepal Army who represented the country from 1951 to 1980 in international events. Each of them will be handed a letter of appreciation and Rs 21,100. Late Gajaraj Joshi and Min Bahadur Basnet were the first two runners to represent Nepali at international level and their family members will be handed over posthumous award. Beside Joshi and Basnet, Bhupendra Silwal, Ganga Bahadur Thapa, Bhakta Bahadur Sapkota, Jeet Bahadur KC, Baikuntha Manandhar and Mukunda Hari Shrestha will be presented with the award.
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