Srinagar, October 25 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday flagged off the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon from Polo Ground in Srinagar, bringing together more than 2,000 runners from across India and abroad.
The event featured two races — the full marathon covering 42.195 kilometres, which began at 6:30 am, and the half marathon of 21 kilometres, flagged off at 7:45 am.
The marathon route passed through several prominent locations in Srinagar, including Lal Chowk, Polo View, Zero Bridge, Gupkar Road, the Jhelum riverfront, Dal Lake, the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Kashmir University and the Mughal Gardens.
According to officials, the event received 1,807 online registrations, including 1,221 participants from Jammu and Kashmir, 513 from other states and 73 international runners representing 12 countries. With additional spot registrations, total participation exceeded 2,000.
The third edition carries a total prize pool of ₹3.17 crore, with the winner in the open category set to receive ₹25 lakh.
A separate prize category has also been introduced for runners from Jammu and Kashmir to encourage local sporting talent and provide greater opportunities for regional athletes to compete at higher levels.
Omar Abdullah said the Kashmir Marathon was emerging as a flagship sporting event, helping strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s position as an international destination for sports tourism while promoting fitness and healthy living.
The Chief Minister had earlier inaugurated a three-day Marathon Expo at Polo View on October 22.
Several senior officials attended the flag-off ceremony, including Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg.
The event combined competitive athletics with Kashmir’s scenic landscapes and cultural attractions, further highlighting Srinagar’s potential to host major sporting events.
