Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Aug 16 : The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department has announced significant cash prizes for the winners of the upcoming Kashmir Marathon.
A tourism department official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that both the Men’s and Women’s categories in the full marathon will see the first-place winners awarded Rs 25 lakh each.
The second-place finishers will receive Rs 20 lakh, while Rs 18 lakh, Rs 15 lakh, and Rs 12 lakh will be awarded to the third, fourth and fifth-place finishers respectively.
For participants in the half marathon, the cash prizes are also substantial. The first-place winners will be awarded Rs 15 lakh, with Rs 12 lakh going to the second-place finishers. The third, fourth, and fifth-place runners will receive Rs 9 lakh, Rs 6 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh, respectively.
This initiative by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department aims to encourage wider participation and highlight the region’s commitment to promoting sports and tourism, the official said.
He said the cash prizes are expected to attract top athletes from across the country and beyond, further elevating the profile of the Kashmir Marathon.
The first-of-its-kind Kashmir Marathon 2024 is all set to be held on October 20. The government has begun the registration for the said event.
The official said many celebrities and top marathon runners from across the world are going to participate in the event.
He said the tour and travel fraternity has started the promotion of the event with travel agents specifically endorsing the event through their tour packages.
The government has dedicated a website for the online registration of the event. The marathon is already registered by the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races. The track has been measured and certificated by the International Athletic Foundation.
All the protocols are being adhered to, the official said, adding that it will figure in the annual calendar of world marathons—(KNO)
