Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 4: To observe 2018 as the ‘Year of Disabled Soldiers’, a marathon was organized at Samba by the Gurj Division to express solidarity with disabled soldiers and promote physical fitness.
The marathon was flagged off by Revati Narayanan, Chairperson FWO, Gurj Division. A large number of school children, civilians and soldiers from Army, BSF, ITBP and Jammu and Kashmir Police participated in the event. It was organized in four categories–Half Marathon of 21.1 km, Combat Run of 12 km, Mini Marathon of 10 km and Introductory Run of 5 km.
The highlight of the event was General Officer Commanding of Gurj Division Major General K Narayanan leading from the front and completing half marathon.
In Half Marathon of 21.1 Km (male), Havaldar Dinesh Kumar of 8 Dogra emerged winner and in Female category, Mandeep Kour secured first position, while Pawan Sharma (a liver cancer survivor) and Shivani Gupta (AEE in PWD), both from Jammu Runners Group (JRG) bagged second and third positions respectively.
In Combat Run of 12 km, Gunner Mandeep of 92 Fd Regiment clinched top position, whereas in civilians category, Rohit of Degree College Samba emerged winner.
In Mini Marathon Run 10 km (male), Kulwinder Singh of Punjab Police emerged winner and in female category, Yogita Malik secured first position, whereas Vasudha Sharma and Zoya, both from Jammu Runners Group clinched second and third positions respectively.
In Introductory Run of 5 km (male), Naik Mandeep of 6 Sikh emerged winner, whereas in female category, Sudha Singh of ITBP secured top position. In college students’ category, Sunil Kumar and in school students’ category, Saurav of APS Samba emerged winners. Abhishek (MES) from Jammu Runners Group got special prize in differently abled category.
Apart from the enthusiastic runners, the Marathon was also attended by disabled soldiers and a large number of ex-servicemen from the border districts of Samba and Kathua.
Elaborative arrangements including full route hydration, medical assistance and energy points were put in different places for the successful conduct of the marathon.
Meanwhile, in this marathon, JRG again performed exceptionally under the leadership of Rajesh Padha by winning around 35 finisher medals which included several podium finishers.
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