Kashmir International Marathon third edition held in Srinagar

The third edition of the Kashmir International Marathon took place in Srinagar on Sunday, featuring 42-km full marathon and 21-km half marathon categories. The event was flagged off by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and organized by the J&K Tourism Department.

Kenyan athletes dominated the full marathon titles, with Emmanuel Sikuku Ndiwa winning the men’s category in 2:15:25 and Sheila Jepkosgei Chesang winning the women’s category in 2:38:21. The event saw 1,807 total registrations, including 73 international athletes representing 12 countries.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the award ceremony, where 68 medals were distributed. He emphasized the importance of nurturing local talent and noted that the marathon serves as a platform to promote Kashmir’s tourism and sporting potential. To support local participants, a separate prize category was introduced for residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The marathon route included scenic areas such as Dal Lake and the Nishat Mughal Garden. Alongside the race, a Marathon Expo was held to showcase local handicrafts, handloom, and agricultural products to international and domestic visitors.