Kathmandu: The fourth guerrilla marathon competition has been completed in Rukum East. The Maoists have been running marathons for the past four years with the objective of developing the hilly roads of Rukum West and East and Rolpa as a ‘guerrilla route’.
A 10-kilometer and 62-kilometer marathon from Mahat to Rolpa was held on Friday, said Sunil Rokamagar, coordinator of Bhume Village Youth Development Center.
In the competition organized with the financial support of Bhume village municipality with the aim of developing and expanding war tourism and promoting tourism in the district, 30 people competed in 10 kilometers and 69 people competed in 62 kilometers.
According to Roka, coordinator of the center, Jeevan Thapa Magar of Rolpa has won the men’s 10 km race. He covered the distance in one hour and two minutes.
Keshav Budhamgar of Rukum East crossed the distance in one hour and four minutes and secured the second position while Sandeep Budha of Rukum East crossed the distance in one hour and six minutes and secured the third position.
In the women’s 10 km race, Sun Kumari Sunar of Rukum East came first in one hour and 40 minutes, Priya Punmagar of Rukum East came second in one hour and 50 minutes and Vinita Sherpali of Rukum East came third in two hours and nine minutes.
The first, second and third place winners were awarded cash prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively, said Rokamagar, coordinator of the Youth Development Center.
Similarly, Dal Bahadur Kunwar of Karnali Sports Jumla became the first to cross the distance in five hours 53 minutes and two seconds towards the 62 km marathon and received a certificate worth Rs 50,000.
Himal Budhamgar of Rukum East finished second in 6 hours 21 minutes and 6 seconds while Durga Budha of Rukum West finished third in 6 hours 35 minutes and 50 seconds.
Similarly, Suman Kulung Rai of Solukhumbu finished fourth in 6 hours 35 minutes and 50 seconds and Kaman Budha of Rukum East finished fifth in 6 hours 36 minutes and 19 seconds.
Manju Rawat of Karnali Sports Club Jumla became the first in the women’s 62 km race by crossing the prescribed distance in 6 hours 56 minutes and 40 seconds.
He has received Rs 50,000. Anita Rai of Solukhumbu finished second in 8 hours 31 minutes and 40 seconds while Asmita Vik of Rolpa finished third in 8 hours 25 minutes and one second.
Anita Rai of Bhojpur finished fourth in eight hours 58 minutes and one second and Anita Budhamgar of Rukum East finished fifth in nine hours 58 minutes and 21 seconds.
The second, third, fourth and fifth place winners in the men’s and women’s categories have been awarded certificates worth Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 8,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The tenth place winners in the competition have also been awarded cash and certificates.
The 10-kilometer route was important from Labang-Dharamsala to Mahat again. The route of the 62-kilometer marathon starts from Mahat and ends at Labang-Chhorwang-Galchyol-Tilgha-Dhangnai-Jaljala-Thabang-Porpocheda-Maring-Thulo Lake, said Roka. Runners from 11 districts participated in the competition.
