Sintakala, 26, finished the distance of 42.195 km in 3 hours 26 minutes 50 seconds finishing ahead of Sonu Jaya Rai who completed the race in 3 hours 37 minutes 6 seconds. [break]Saraswati Khadka of Kathmandu secured third position clocking 3 hours 40 minutes 35 seconds.
In the men´s section, Basnet, 28, of Nepal Army clocked 2 hours 29 minutes 40 seconds to secure top position for the first time in marathon coming ahead of his departmental teammates Letter Singh Khatri and Uttam Khatri who finished second and third respectively. Letter clocked 2 hours 31 minutes 32 seconds and Uttam clocked 2 hours 33 minutes 06 seconds.
The defending champion and the South Asian Games (SAG) marathon gold medalist Rajendra Bhandari who was leading the race until 37 km finished in fourth after he got hamstring problem since then. Bhandari clocked 2 hours 33 minutes 14 seconds.
The top three runners of both men´s and women´s marathon bagged Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. In all, 79 runners had participated in the marathon including 69 in men´s and 10 in women´s section.
"I was optimistic of winning the marathon since the beginning," said APF athlete Sintakala who claimed the fourth marathon career of her title. Sintakala got tough challenge from Rai and Khadka during the initial 10 km of the race. "All three of us were together since the first 10 km but I took sole lead after that," said the APF athlete who informed that she was unable to train in full swing for the last one month due to cough and cold.
"Now I try to do better than this and win at least a medal in the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG)," Sintakala said.
In the men´s section Basnet seemed to be lucky to win the marathon after defending champion Bhandari was forced to slow down his pace. Bhandari was ahead than Basnet since the beginning to 37 km.
"It was difficult for me to run after 37 km as I had hamstring problem in both of my legs," said Bhandari. "Thus I finished the remaining distance walking and jogging and I am happy that I completed the distance," the 36-year-old Army athlete said.
"Though I did not win the race I am still happy due to the arrival of new athlete. The game cannot develop until the arrival of new athlete," said Bhandari who made a sensational comeback in the 11th SAG after he was stripped of his twin gold medals he won during short distance race in the 10th SAG.
"Win or loss is natural in sports and defeat is always positive for next achievement. If I get quick recovery I will compete in future otherwise I may quit the race," said Bhandari.
Basnet, who finished third in the last edition of the marathon was delighted with his achievement. "I thought that I shall win the race after 37 km," said Basnet who won the first open marathon of his career. This is the sixth time Basnet participated in the marathon in his five years in the sport.
"The win has motivated me to perform better in the future. Now I will try to secure place in the final," said Basnet who has aimed to secure place in national team and perform better in the future.
Meanwhile, Army athletes clean swept men´s half marathon as well. Kalyan Baniya (1 hour 14 minutes 8 seconds), Raj Kumar Bista (1 hour 14 minutes 9 seconds) and Gyan Prasad Bhattarai (1 hour 14 minutes 44 seconds) of departmental team secured top three positions respectively.
Brinda Shrestha (1 hour 33 minutes 30 seconds) of APF took home women´s half marathon title while Sarita Bashi of Nepal Army (1 hour 45 minutes 2 seconds) and Anig Grape (2 hours 9 minutes 57 seconds) of France secured second and third positions respectively. The top three finishers in both men´s and women´s half marathon bagged Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
Army players also clean swept 5-km men´s open race. Kiran Kumar Malla secured gold while Lal Bahadur Thapa and Moti Lal Chaudhary secured silver and bronze medals. Kanchhi Maya Koju and Gita Khatri of APF secured first and second positions in women´s open 5-km race. Rupa Khadka of Army finished third. The top three runners of both the categories were given Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.
Anup Khanal, Raju Shrestha and Anish Shrestha secured top three position in high school boy´s 5-km race while Sangita Khadka, Sarmila Chhetri and Rina Kapali took home school girl´s top three honors. They were given Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.
Bharat Adhikari, Krishna Chaudhary and Dinesh Khadka secured finished in top three positions in men´s wheelchair race while Sonia Dhakal, Lali Sherpa and Jyoti Aryal in women´s wheel chair race.
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