Kenyan, Ethiopian athletes to compete

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 17

Top athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya along with Indian athletes and amateur runners will participate in the seventh Namah Nainital Mountain Monsoon Marathon (NNM3) in Nainital on August 28.

The event will see participation of hill people including those from the industrial belt of SIDCUL. The event held annually on the last Sunday of August.

Uttarakhand in recent times has given new hope to long distance running and walking events. This year at Rio Olympics, out of four sportsmen from Uttarakhand, three are representing India in 20-km race walk and full marathon. These sportsmen are Nitendra Singh Rawat (42-km full marathon), Gurmeet Singh and Manish Rawat (20-km walking event).The event since its inception had been supported by the Uttarakhand Tourism, SIDCUL and the Manu Maharani Hotel. This year the event has been sponsorship by Namah, a premium luxury brand of DS Hospitality. The co-sponsorer of the event is Uttarakhand Tourism Department.

Udham Singh Nagar District Sports Officer Suresh Pandey, an international fame athlete, is the event director.

In the first (21-km) male category, entry fee is Rs 500. The first prize is Rs 50,000, second prize Rs 25,000, third prize Rs 15,000, fourth prize Rs 10,000 and the fifth prize is Rs 5,000.

In the second (10-km) female category, the entry fee is Rs 500. The first prize is Rs 20,000, second Rs 10,000, third Rs 7,000 and the fourth prize is Rs 5000.

There is a separate category for veterans (above 45 years) senior and junior school students.

First hundred runners will get the finishing medal. All participants, who finish the marathon, will get a timing certificate along with two nights’ complimentary stay in Nainital.

The registration can be done on http://www.run2live.co.in/events.php, and any information on marathon can be obtained from Harish Tiwari -07579228128.