Pune: The chief of army staff Manoj Pande will inaugurate the 42-km Kargil International Marathon to be organized by the Pune-based NGO, Sarhad, on September 19.
The socially-empowering event could be held owing to the joint efforts of Ladakh Police and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil.
The organizer Shailesh Pagariya said that the aim is to promote sports and attract tourism to Kargil. He further said that the name of Kargil evokes the memory of the Indo-Pak war in the minds. However, a lot has changed since then, transforming Kargil into a scenic tourist spot.
“We want this message to reach the whole country today. This is our main aim to organize the marathon, with prize money of Rs 8 lakh,” Pagariya said.
He said the event is completely free. It is expected that 70 percent of men and 30 percent of women, besides army jawans, will take part in the ‘Run for Apricot’ themed marathon.
“So far, we have received 2000 registrations, including a few international participants,” he mentioned, adding that the event’s logo was recently released by Lt Gen Ravi Dastane (retd).
The NGO’s sole aim is to attract high tourist footfalls in Kargil hence generating ample job opportunities for the locals so that they can “become economically strong”, he reiterated.
Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur, UT Ladakh, and Ladakh Police Chief ADG Satish Khandhare will also be present, he added.
