Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, Oct 22: Participants of the recently concluded first International Kashmir Marathon have raised concerns over the event’s age categorization, calling for better alignment with international standards. Many runners alleged that all participants over the age of 50 were grouped into a single category, forcing those as old as 65 or 70 to compete with athletes just over 50.
The marathon, held in the picturesque Kashmir valley and organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, attracted over 1,700 runners, including a dozen foreign nationals. It was flagged off by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty. The event aimed to showcase Kashmir as a peaceful destination capable of hosting international events.
Internationally, marathons feature distinct age categories, such as 50-55, 55-60, and even 70 and above, allowing older runners to compete on a more level playing field. However, in this inaugural event, older athletes had to compete against much younger counterparts, limiting the potential for podium finishes in their respective age groups. “Had there been a better classification of age groups, more podium finishers could have emerged, particularly from the older categories,” said a concerned runner.
Another participant criticized the registration fees, which were perceived as too high-Rs 1,800 for the half marathon and Rs 2,200 for the full marathon-making it unaffordable for many local runners. “If the registration fees were lower, more people would participate,” they suggested.
Additionally, participants expressed frustration over the marathon’s scheduling, which clashed with the 19th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024, one of India’s largest marathons, and coincided with the festival of ‘Karvachauth.’ This overlap led to a significant number of female runners from North India being unable to attend.
Furthermore, there were complaints regarding the overall organization of the event, with some participants feeling that the Sports Council of Jammu and Kashmir-the official body responsible for sports in the region-should have overseen the marathon to ensure proper standards were upheld.
Speaking to Excelsior, Commissioner Secretary of J&K Tourism, Yasha Mudgal, stated, “Hosting the International Kashmir Marathon for the first time in the Kashmir valley is a significant achievement. Though some categories were not included in this marathon, we will consider adding more categories in the next edition.”
Regarding the low turnout and high registration fees, Mudgal emphasized that this was the first edition of the marathon and that the organizing team would learn from the experience. “We will learn a lot from this event and implement changes in the future,” she said. However, she defended the registration fees, stating, “As far as the registration fees are concerned, it’s genuine.”
Despite these concerns, many participants remain hopeful that future editions of the Kashmir Marathon will address these issues, aligning better with international practices and encouraging greater participation and fairer competition across all age groups.
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