 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 9: J&K Tourism in collaboration with the IKA sports & events and patnitop Development Authority organised the fifth edition of patnitop Marathon as 500 athletes from various parts of of the UT and country took part in the event.
The marathon was flagged off by Joint Director Tourism Jammu Aijaz Qaiser, JKAS here on Sunday morning celebrating fitness, resilience and unstoppable spirit of Jammu & Kashmir. Virender Manyal, JKAS Chief Executive Officer Patnitop Development Authority , Sukhbir Singh , DySP SDPO Chenani , Pankaj Sasan , JKAS DD Tourism , Arif Lone, JKAS AD Tourism NHW and Kapil Arora founder of IKA sports and events were also present at the flagging off event early Sunday morning .
The flag off event from Main Meadow, Patnitop, witnessed enthusiastic participation from professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, tourists, and locals who gathered to celebrate endurance, health, and the spirit of adventure amid the breathtaking Himalayan backdrop.The marathon featured multiple categories including Ultra Marathon (50 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km Run, 5 km Run, each flagged off at intervals beginning at 6:30 a.m.
The award ceremony was held later in the day wherein the chief guest Alyas Khan ,JKAS Deputy Commissioner Ramban distributed prizes among the winners and runner ups of various categories and age groups. DC Ramban appreciated the efforts of tourism department and IKA for the initiative and congratulated the participants for turning up in huge numbers early morning inspite of the winter chill. He lauded such initiatives which form a part of the Tourism Department's continuous efforts to promote adventure, wellness, and eco-friendly tourism in the Jammu region. By integrating sports with tourism, the department aims to position Patnitop as a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Speaking on the occasion, Aijaz Qaiser, JKAS, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, said, "Patnitop has immense potential for adventure and Leisure tourism. Events like this not only encourage a culture of fitness but also draw attention to the region's natural beauty and tourism opportunities. This Marathon would certainly boost tourism in the hill station as 500 participants from across the country have come all the way to patnitop to make this 5th edition a grand event especially The 5K Fun Walkathon which drew an enthusiastic crowd of children, families, and first-time participants, underlining the inclusive spirit that defines the Patnitop Marathon. He further said that under the overall guidance of Shri Ashish Chander Verma, IAS, Additional chief Secretary , Tourism Department and Shri Vikas Gupta, JKAS, Director Tourism, Jammu the directorate is committed in diversifying tourism activities and promoting sustainable adventure initiatives across the region.
Virender Manyal , JKAS CEO PDA thanked the district administration of Udhampur and Ramban for the support in organising such a grand event. He also thanked Kapil Arora founder of IKA for his consistent initiative in promoting fitness among various age groups. He also expressed gratitude to all participants, local volunteers, and partner organisations for making the event a grand success.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Kapil Arora, Founder of IKA Sports & Events, said that the Digital engagement surpassed 1.1 million impressions across social media platforms, websites, and emails. With live RFID timing, on-ground hydration and medical support, and professional race photography, the event maintained its reputation for world-class execution.
He also thanked the partners and sponsors including Storia Foods, Cult Fit, Gold's Gym, MOB Community, and Jammu University. Their collaboration helped enhance the athlete experience with hydration zones, recovery breakfasts, and entertainment areas, making the marathon a holistic celebration of health and harmony.
In the 50 kms Men's category, Maj Sachin Singh Kunal clinched victory with an impressive time of 5:25:59, followed by Abhishake Gupta (5:43:31) and Makkhan Singh (5:58:02).
In the Women's division, Kirti took top honours with 6:43:43, ahead of Divya Vasishta (6:58:00) and Shilpa Chaku Handoo (7:52:38).
Half Marathon (21.1 km):
The Half Marathon saw fierce competition with Rakesh Kumar (1:30:30) emerging as the fastest male, followed by Ajay Vikas (1:35:09) and Deepak Sharma (1:35:59).
Among women, Rimpi Devi (2:32:40) led the field, followed by Avneet Kaur Soni (2:48:37) and Lata Alimchandani (2:52:40).
10K Challenge: Fast and Fierce
The 10K category witnessed exhilarating finishes with Soutabh Sharma (39:30), Pankaj Sharma (40:08), and Imtiaz Ahmed (40:48) securing the top three positions among men.
In the women's division, Anjali Rajpir (55:26), Sonali Sharma (1:18:40), and Ayushi Gupta (1:22:21) led the leaderboard.
5K Timed Run & Walkathon: Fitness for All
In the 5K Timed Run, Aryan Sharma (20:39), Rahil Manhas (20:56), and Sunil Kumar (22:14) topped the men's results, while Shabnam Bano (32:24), Vidushi Mohan (33:53), and Babita Devi (36:17) were the leading women finishers. |
