Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NR)
Picture courtesy: Gulfkannadiga.com
Udupi, Feb 18: For all those health and fitness buffs, the most eagerly awaited event with the underlying theme 'Run for education through health' kick-started here on Sunday February 17. The 'Udupi Marathon - 2008' organized jointly by the Udupi district Athletic Association and Manipal University, was flagged off at 6.30 am from Manipal University premises.
The marathon of 21 kilometres was flagged-off by the famous international athlete Vandana Rao, while chairperson of Hostel Advisory Committee of the University Dr Vasanthi Pai and well-known cine actress Sanjana who was the chief guest on the occasion flagged-off the marathons for above 50 years and under sixteen categories respectively.
The marathon received a good response, with hundreds of enthusiastic people participating in the event. The half run marathon which began from the Manipal University premises winded its way through Doddanna guddee bus stop, Gundibail, Adkada katte, Kodankooru stop, Sai mandir, Moodubettu stop, Adi Udupi, Diana Hotel, Sharadam temple, Indiranagar finally culminating at KMC Greens.
The chairman of the Third Finance Commission A G Kodgi ran the entire 5 km while former MLA K Raghupati Bhat covered some distance. After the conclusion of the marathon, there was a prize distribution function for the winners.
In the above 50 years men's 5 km race, the first six places went to B Kaldharan of the Southern Railways, K Ramakrishna, K L Patil, Mohan P Netrakar, Jayakrishna Hegde and Basavaraj Bijjargi and in the women's section it was K Arunakala of Hiryadka, Sarojini P Anchan, Mary Minan, R Kasturi, Veena Kudva and Chandrakala Rao.
In the 21 kilometres men and women's category Nagendra Rao and Kamali Shah respectively of Alva’s College in Moodubidre were the shining stars of the day bagging the top spot. While MLC Shahnawaz and Baliram again of the same College were the winners of second and third place in men's category.
Saroja Gowda from Ujire and Sathyabhama R D'Souza from Mumbai won the second and third position in women's category. The winner's slot in the under 16 category was taken by Krishna Bari from Belgaum and Revathi from Ampar.
At the prize distribution ceremony a cash prize of Rs 25,000 was awarded to the winner and Rs 15000 and 10000 to the first and second runners-up respectively in the first category of half marathon (21 kilometres). The prizes were given away by the president of Manipal University Ramdas Pai, pro-chancellor H S Ballal and vice-chancellor Rajasekharan Warrier.