The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Services runners start favourites

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Services runners start favourites

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Marathon runners from Services start as firm favourites for the Indian Open title at the Rs. 10 lakh event here on Sunday. K.C. Ramu, Surinder Kumar and Shivdan Singh will lead 150-odd contestants in the event revived after a gap for six years.

A record number of entries have been received for the Mawana Sugars Indian Open marathon with a total of 1525 registering in three categories for men and women. As much as 1189 men have entered the half-marathon race, while there are just 128 entries in the women's section. Only 13 women have entered the full marathon race, ensuring that if they complete the distance all will get into the prize list.

The prizes for both men and women are same with the marathon winner getting Rs. one lakh and the runner-up Rs. 50,000. The half-marathon winner will get Rs. 25,000 and the runner-up Rs. 20,000.

Ramu, the winner of 2005 Bangalore International marathon, Surinder, the winner of Delhi International marathon, Shivdan Singh, G.L. Mali, Saji Mathew, Hira Lal, Abdul Bareek, Nathu Ram, Roop Singh and Bhairaon Singh Lone of Railways will be in the fray.

Leelamma, the winner of Bangalore and Delhi marathons and the National record-holder Satyabhama will be the top contenders in the women's race.

The race, which will begin and end at the Nehru Stadium, will take Bhishma Pitamah Marg, August Kranti Marg, Outer Ring Road near Panchsheel flyover, Joseph Tito Marg, Chirag Delhi flyover, Moolchand flyover, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Mathura Road, Sher Shah Suri Road, India Gate hexagon, Zakir Hussain Marg, Subramanium Bharti Marg, Max Muller Road and Lodhi Road.

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