The Airtel Hyderabad Marathon got bigger with the ninth edition nday witnessing record participation. Nearly 25,000 put on their running shoes as full and half marathons were flagged off from the People’s Plaza on Sunday morning, the starting point resembling the epicentre of a colourful festival.
A total of 9,181 runners took part in the 5K Run and 8,292 in the 10K Run while there were 4,516 participants for the half-marathon and 1,235 for the full marathon, much to the delight of the Hyderabad Runners Society (HRS), which organised the grand event.
‘Great experience’
Software engineer G. Ravi Kiran of Infosys, who took part in the 10K Run, said, “It was a great experience to be part of this magnificent event and I wish to take part regularly henceforth,” he said pointing to the care and concern the officials showed towards the participants since there were 250 paramedics, 21 medical stations and five fully-equipped ambulances on call.
Importantly, the marathon raised about ₹30 lakh which would go to charity through NGOs. That apart, ₹15 lakh was given as cash prizes in three different categories to men and women.
In full marathon, the winners were Berhanu Feye (men’s category, 2 hours, 26 minutes and 10 seconds) and Rosina Kiboino (women’s category; 2 hours, 55 minutes and 26 seconds). In half marathon, the top honours went to Asrat Hiyrden (men; 1 hour, 8 minutes and 20 seconds) and Midred Kinyanja (women; 1 hour, 22 minutes and 30 seconds).
The 10K category winners were Kiran (men; 31 minutes and 38 seconds) and Hannah Wanjiku Gatheru (women; 39 minutes and 11 seconds).
Race director Abhijeet, Bharti Airtel CEO (AP and Telangana) Avneet Singh Puri and HRS president Murali Nannapaneni greeted the athletes at the GMC Balayogi Stadium, the finish point. Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar had flagged off the full marathon and GHMC Commissioner M. Dana Kishore the half-marathon.
