Jammu Hosts First International Half Marathon Tomorrow

Jammu is all set to host its first International Half Marathon, with around 4,000 runners expected to participate. The event will take place tomorrow, and officials have made full arrangements to ensure everything runs smoothly for both Indian and international runners.

The marathon is an important step towards promoting sports tourism in the region. It is being organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department to encourage people to stay fit and also attract visitors to the region.

The race will start early in the morning at the Maulana Azad Stadium. There are three categories in the event:

21 km Half Marathon
10 km Fitness Run
5 km Fun Run

So far, 3,663 participants have registered, including 91 international runners. More than 800 runners are coming from outside Jammu and Kashmir, showing strong interest in the event. Organizers are also allowing last-minute registrations for those who want to take part.

The marathon offers a total prize pool of ₹1.33 crore, making it one of the biggest sporting events in the region. There are separate prizes for men and women, along with special awards for local participants.

In the 21 km Half Marathon, the winners will receive:

₹15 lakh for first place
₹10 lakh for second
₹7 lakh for third
₹3 lakh for fourth
₹2 lakh for fifth

For the 10 km Fitness Run:

₹5 lakh for first
₹4 lakh for second
₹3 lakh for third
₹2 lakh for fourth
₹1 lakh for fifth

In the 5 km Fun Run, prizes range from ₹1 lakh for the winner to ₹15,000 for the fifth position.

Officials believe the marathon will help promote a healthy lifestyle among people and bring more tourists to the region. Events like this can also help the local economy by increasing travel, hotel stays, and other activities.

The success of this marathon could make it a regular event in the future. It may also help Jammu gain recognition as a destination for major sports events in India.