Srinagar, Oct 19 (KNO): With over 1,800 runners, including 73 foreigners, registered for the October 25 event, the Kashmir Marathon is gearing up for its third edition, even as international participation faces challenges from travel advisories and the prevailing situation in the Middle East.
According to registration details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 513 domestic runners and 1,221 local participants have signed up for the marathon. Of the total registrations, 1,416 runners have opted for the 21-kilometre half marathon, while 391 will compete in the 42-kilometre full marathon.
The registrations include 1,614 male and 193 female participants.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said the department aims to establish the marathon as a regular annual event and develop it into a recognised brand for Kashmir.
“The Kashmir Marathon will be a brand of the Tourism Department and a regular feature every year,” he said.
Sajjad said the marathon's inclusion in the calendar of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) would help establish it as a consistent annual event and strengthen Kashmir's position as a destination for sporting events.
The director said a separate prize category had been introduced for Jammu and Kashmir domiciles to encourage local participation, promote fitness and provide local runners greater opportunities to showcase their talent.
He said international marathons were often dominated by African runners, particularly Kenyans, adding that the initiative aimed to bring local athletes into the spotlight and encourage more people to take up running.
Sajjad said travel advisories issued by some European countries and the United States, along with the prevailing situation in the Middle East, had affected the turnout of foreign runners.
The marathon features two race categories, a 42-kilometre full marathon and a 21-kilometre half marathon. The routes are designed to showcase Kashmir's natural beauty and cultural heritage, with runners passing through scenic stretches featuring Dal Lake, Chinar trees and Mughal gardens.
The Tourism Department is seeking to use the event to promote sports tourism and attract runners from across India and abroad, while building Kashmir's profile as a destination for major sporting events.
The director, replying to a query on arrangements, said an inter-departmental committee and a core group were coordinating preparations with the Divisional Commissioner’s monitoring, while police, security forces and administrative agencies were working together to ensure smooth conduct.
"A dedicated team has also been assigned to assist runners with accommodation and logistics," he added—(KNO)