The first ever Northeast Half Marathon, inaugurated today on 5th February, 2023 was completed with great fervor. The JSL NFR Northeast Half Marathon was flagged off today at N. F. Railway Sports Association (NFRSA) Stadium, Maligaon in presence of Nisith Pramanik Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sports & Youth Affairs, Govt of India, G.P. Singh DGP Assam, General Manager of N. F. Railway, Anshul Gupta and Director of Jindal Stainless, Tarun Khulbe in presence of many dignitaries.
The event was graced with the presence of many eminent sports personalities of National and International fame. Around 7000 runners from across India and abroad took part in today’s event.
In line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of overall development of North-eastern region & nation building, Northeast Frontier Railway has partnered with Jindal Stainless, a leading stainless steel manufacturer and Innovations India to organize a series of Half Marathons in the North-eastern states. The Northeast Half Marathons are being conducted across North East India with the aim of empowering the sportspersons and development of sporting activity in Northeast India.
Participants competed in three different race categories – 21 Km, 10 Km and 5 Km run both for men and women. The 21 Km- long half marathon began at 05:30 am starting from NFRSA stadium passing through Gosala, Jalukbari PP and up to Hajo Road and returned back to NFRSA stadium. Among the 21 Km-long half marathon runners, Paul Eyanae from Kenya won the men’s race in 01:02:15 while Chernet from Ethiopia won the women’s race in 01:09:39.8. Berhanu (Ethiopia) came second in 01:02:19 in the men’s race while Emebet (Ethiopia) emerged as second runner in the women’s race clocking 01:12:59.2. James Kiplating of Kenya bagged third position in men’s race clocking 01:02:54 while Indian runner Neetu Kumari bagged third position in Women’s race in 01:13:37 in the 21 Km-long half marathon. Winners of 21 Km, 10 Km and 5 Km run for both the categories were awarded with prize money, medals and certificates.
The second event of this series is scheduled to be organised at Darjeeling on 26th February, 2023, followed by third at Tawang on 12th March, 2023.
The NE Half Marathon would highlight all states of Northeast India as one entity and would surely catapult the complete Northeast Region of India into limelight at both National & International Platforms.