look news india
New Delhi, 23 February (HS). India's top runners will take part in the 9th edition of the prestigious Apollo Tires New Delhi Marathon on Sunday (February 25, 2024) along with over 19,000 athletes. Indian runners will also hope to win tickets for this year's Paris Olympics.
Army Sports Institute's Gopi T (2:13:39), Srinu B (2:14:59) and Anish Thapa (2:16:41) are preparing for the event keeping the national record in mind. In the process, he will also hope to achieve the Olympic qualification mark of 2:08.10. Nirmaben Thakar (2:47:11) and Ashini Jadhav (2:56:41) are among the leading female runners in the race.
The race will also feature star power in the form of fitness star Soha Ali Khan. She serves as the proud brand ambassador of Marathon and the list also features cricket star Irfan Pathan.
Held under the aegis of Athletics Federation of India and Fit India, the Apollo Tires New Delhi Marathon has grown in stature over the years and is recognized as the national marathon of the country. Amidst the cold weather of Delhi, this marathon will pass through the heart of the city and pass through iconic places like Humayun's Tomb, Lodhi Garden and Khan Market.
With NEB Sports planning, NDM is set to host an impressive marathon of 19,000 participants from 289 cities, 27 states and 19 countries. With 3000 runners for full marathon, 7000 for half marathon, 5000 for 10 km and 4000 runners for 5 km, it is one of the biggest sporting events of Indian sports.
Athletic Federation of India President Adile Sumariwalla said, “We are happy to see such a good response to the National Marathon and are hopeful that the athletes will continue to bring glory to the country.”
Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tires Limited, is a marathon runner himself. He expressed immense satisfaction at the overwhelming response of the running community to the event.
Rajat Khurana, Managing Director, Asics India and Asia, said, “We are excited to collaborate as the official sporting goods partner of one of the most prestigious running events in the country. Asics has created race day merchandise specifically designed to help everyone experience the race and perform optimally with shoes and apparel. I wish every participant a great race experience.”
Meanwhile, Race Director Nagaraj Adiga expressed his gratitude for the privilege of collaborating with renowned brands like Apollo Tires and Asics. They have confidently affirmed that with their unwavering support the event is set to deliver an unparalleled experience for all participants and ensure a world-class event. In a heart-touching display of unity and inclusivity, various NGOs are coming together for the marathon.
Among them, Sai Vishwanath Memorial Trust, Bhayat NGO and Guide Runners for visually impaired runners stand together in favor of diversity in sports. Ankur Dhama, a resident of Khekra, Uttar Pradesh, lost his vision at the age of 5. Despite his visual impairment, Ankur will accept the challenge of running a 10 kilometer race with 25 visually impaired runners. Bengaluru School of Sports' Champion In program will see a team of 6 athlete ambassadors along with coaches participate, demonstrating their determination to tackle the stigma and discrimination faced by youth living with HIV. About 20 HIV infected children from “Positive Running Programme” of Ananya Trust, Bengaluru will also participate in the programme. As they cover the distance they will set an example for others.