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- Lieutenant Governor says local winners should be guided towards national and international competitions and urges people to make fitness part of daily life
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the winners of the Kashmir Marathon, calling on authorities and private institutions to nurture local talent and help young runners progress to national and international competitions.
A total of 68 medals were awardedâ34 each in the Full Marathon and Half Marathon categories. Sinha said every medal reflected dedication, perseverance and the pursuit of a dream. He added that completing the race after hours of sustained effort also deserved recognition, as every participant had overcome a demanding challenge.
The Lieutenant Governor welcomed the separate category for Jammu and Kashmir residents, saying the event gives young people, including those from far-flung areas, an opportunity to showcase their potential. With the right support, he said, future marathon champions could emerge from the Union Territory.
âTourism Department, Jammu Kashmir Sports Council, and private institutions must provide trainers for todayâs local winners, support and mentor them, and guide them so that, building upon this marathon, they can reach national and international tournaments. I want the medal won by local youth at todayâs Kashmir Marathon to mark the beginning of a new journey,â he said.
Sinha said the Kashmir Marathon had gained recognition on the global running circuit and helped place Srinagar among cities hosting prestigious long-distance races. Participants from India and abroad, he said, return home as ambassadors of Jammu and Kashmir, carrying memories of its hospitality and natural beauty.
He also highlighted the role of marathons in promoting fitness and raising awareness about lifestyle diseases. The sight of young runners and participants over 50, he said, could inspire more people to adopt healthier routines.
âMarathons inspire people to make a new beginning towards a healthy life. I am fully confident that the sight of young participants and also senior runners above the age of 50 in this very Kashmir Marathon can inspire lakhs of people to take a step forward and at least include a daily walk in their routine,â he said.
Addressing young people, Sinha urged them to draw confidence from their marathon experience and meet future challenges with determination. He called on citizens to contribute to a developed India and a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir through hard work and collective progress.
âShaping the future in the right direction lies in our own hands. Today, it is essential that we take responsibility for our own tomorrow and, through determined effort, create a new history. For a developed India and a self-reliant Jammu Kashmir, we must rise above personal interests and build an unbreakable strength that transforms every challenge into an opportunity.
âI commend the Jammu Kashmir Police and security forces for fostering a conducive atmosphere over the past six years, paving the way for hosting such prestigious international-level events in the Union Territory,â the Lieutenant Governor said.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Tourism Department Secretary Avny Lavasa; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg; IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar; Srinagar SSP Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; senior civil and police officials; prominent citizens; sportspersons; and youth attended the ceremony.
