Ladakh Silk Route Ultra Marathon sees record-breaking runs

The 122km Silk Route Ultra Ladakh Marathon featured notable performances from endurance runners navigating extreme high-altitude conditions. Suraj Meena, a runner from Rajasthan, secured second place with a time of 12 hours and 35 minutes. This achievement sets a new record for non-Ladakhi participants, surpassing the previous record of 15 hours and six minutes. Meena prepared for the race by cycling 2,400km from Jaipur to Ladakh to aid acclimatization.

Okitlang Syiemlieh, a member of the Meghalaya Police, finished ninth overall in the event. Syiemlieh is the first athlete from Meghalaya to compete in this specific ultra-marathon. The race, which included demanding sections around Khardung La and Tiger Hill, required participants to manage low-oxygen environments. Syiemlieh’s ninth-place finish follows his previous success in the 72km Khardung La Challenge and the Tsomgo Ultra Marathon.