Hundreds of runners from Nagaland and over 10 states took part in ‘The Dimapur Marathon’ organized by Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) on Saturday.
The much-anticipated marathon– 10 KM Red Ribbon run and 21 KM Half Marathon witnessed participation of both men and women as young as 16 years old to 68 years old. The marathon was flagged off by advisor Labour, Employment & Skill Development, and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer.
According to the organizers, the runners from over 10 States including– Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi took part in the marathon.
From spirited students to professional runners, dedicated military personnel, casual joggers, and health enthusiasts, the diverse array of participants contributed to the marathon’s vibrancy.
The event was open to all communities with a theme not only to foster unity and brotherhood among all communities but also to promote physical fitness, healthy lifestyle and to create awareness on HIV/AIDS.
In the 10 KM run, Rinky Kumari Chauan (Assam) and M Nokching Chang (Nagaland) bagged the first place in the women and men’s category, second place– A Marikho (Men- Manipur) and Makak Mayum Minarashi (Women- Assam) and third place– Tsole Yhokho (Men Nagaland) and Cekro Talu (Women- Nagaland). The winners walked away with cash award of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000, and Rs. 10,000 respectively.
In the 21 KM category– Daniel Lyngdoh Wahlang (Meghalaya) conquered the challenging course to secure the first place while H Ngaopulou (Manipur) bagged the second place and third place by Wede T Mero from Nagaland.
The stakes were even higher for the 21 KM category, with the top three finishers walking away with a substantial amount of Rs. 1,00,000, Rs. 50,000, and Rs. 20,000, respectively while the
top 15 runners from all categories also received certificates. Prior to the flag-off ceremony, Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer, in his brief message, expressed his joy over the impressive turnout. He noted that the event’s scale showcased the commitment of Nagas to health and unity. Longkumer said he was also thrilled to witness runners from over 10 states and congratulated ASUD for the successfully organizing the marathon.