Srinagar: Army on Monday organised a 12 km Half Marathon run, at Gulmarg the world famous tourist hot spot of Jammu & Kashmir.
According to an official statement issued by Srinagar based PRO Defence 83 participants from all over Kashmir wore the Tiranga on their chest and completed the arduous run which started from the picturesque Gulmarg bowl and entwined through Gandola point, Shiv Mandir, Gulmarg market, Maharaja palace, Children Park and Gulmarg Lake.
The locals of Gulmarg and the tourists, according to the above quoted statement of Srinagar PRO Defence, thronged the route to cheer and encourage the participants. The race was run in a total of four categories to encourage participation in all age brackets. Each category had three prizes. Winners in each category were as follows:-
Group -1 (15 Yrs-20 Yrs): With a timing of 56 mins 32 sec, Shakeel Ah Dar came First, Sheikh Shakibul Rahmaan came second and Mohmees Ismail Wani came third.
Group -2 (21 Yrs -30 Yrs): With a timing of 51mins 21 sec, Waseem Ahmad Bhat came First, Mohammad Ishfaq Guzar came second and Adil Ahmad Nazar came third.
Group -3 (30 Yrs and above) : With a timing of 76 mins 19 sec, Abdul Qayyum Chechi came First, and Ishfaq Ahmad Lone came second.
Group -4 (Women): With a timing of 85 mins, Mehak Mushtaq came First, and Kulsooma Gulzar came second.
The concluding para of the statement reads “The people of Kashmir have once again shown that they have the talent, they have the zeal and they have the grit and determination, to be part of the Indian team some day and represent the Nation in international competitions”.