SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced special prizes for local runners in the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon, scheduled to be held in Srinagar on October 25, as the government seeks to encourage greater participation in both the half-marathon and full-marathon categories.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Thursday, Omar said the decision followed requests from local runners for incentives to boost participation in the event.
He said athletes from across India and several foreign countries were expected to compete, adding that Kashmir’s natural landscape and the prize money on offer made the marathon distinctive.
The Chief Minister, who participated in the first two editions, said he would not run this year but would attend the event to flag off the race.
He also urged people who had not registered to come forward and participate, stressing that taking part was more important than winning.
Seventy-three foreign athletes from 12 countries are expected to join the October 25 event. The Tourism Department expects overall participation to exceed 2,000, as Jammu and Kashmir seeks to promote Kashmir as an international destination for sports tourism.
