VALLIAPPA, NIRMABEN FINISH TOP IN INDIRA MARATHON

PRAYAGRAJ : Call it a destiny or irony, but the reality is that even after 36 years, the prestigious All-India Indira Gandhi Prize Money Marathon has no participation of international athletes.

There are many reasons, including a few technical ones, but the important one is the low “prize money”. The Uttar Pradesh Athletics Association believes that to lure international athletes to the event, the prize money should be raised to the tune of Rs 5 lakh and there has to be participation of minimum five and maximum 11 international runners in the event.

“You raise the prize money to Rs 5 lakh, many athletes from Kenya and other countries would participate in the event on invitation,” UPAA’s secretary, PK Srivastava said on Friday.

Away from this, Pune’s Army Sports Institute’s AB Valliappa and Nirmaben Bharatjee Thakur of Hajipur (Gujarat) emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively in the 36th edition of the event on Friday. Valliappa clocked 2:20:53 to finish top, whereas fellow army runners Anil Kumar Singh (2:22:08) and Hetram (2:23:12) finished second and third, respectively.

Sporting chest no 3012, Thakur in the women’s section left everyone behind, clocking 2:50:41 second. She was followed by Arti Patil of Army Sports Institute-Pune (2:55:29) and Tamshi Singh (2:59:59).

The participants ran on the route past Teliarganj, Mayo Hall crossing, High Court, CMP College, New Yamuna bridge, Hanuman Mandir up to the end point at Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium. The runners ran with a computer chip each attached to their shoes or clothes.