KATHMANDU, SEP 13 - Nepal Army stole the show in the third edition of the Kathmandu Marathon on Saturday.

Arjun Kumar Basnet of Nepal Army left behind Rajendra Bhandari and last year's winner Uttam Khatri to win gold. He clocked 2:25:36 hours in the 42km marathon which started from as well as ended in the Dashrath Stadium. Along with the medal he pocketed $5,000. Basnet had finished second last year.

"My performance today was a test of how prepared I am for the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG). I think I am in good shape," Basnet said. In the 10th SAG held in Sri Lanka, Basnet had completed his marathon in 2:28:00 hours. 

The Speed King of the Nepali athletics Rajendra Bhandari clocked 2:28:38 hours to win silver. He was satisfied with his performance although he could not win. "I value race time rather than position," Bhandari said.

For his effort, he pocketed $3,000. He also blamed his poor luck for not winning. "I was unlucky. I was leading right from the start but at 39-40km my legs were hurting bad and I lagged behind."

Uttam Khatri cited lack of practice for not being able to retain his position this year. He bagged bronze clocking 2:30:20 hours. Khatri said, "Though my target time was 2:23:00 hours, I was not able to complete. I definitely need more practice for SAG." Third placed Khatri won $1,500.

Nepal Army's coach Pushpa Raj Ojha was pleased with his team's performance. "Regular practice is the key to our success," he said.

Mohendra Shahi, Arjun Prasad Dhakal, Ram Bhandari, Ram Kumar Khatri, Chandra Bahadur Mahato, Raibat Bahadur Dahal and Shyam Parajuli rounded up the top 10.

Kanchi Maya Koju proved she is still the queen of distance running winning the gold in women's category. Bhaktapur's Koju completed the marathon in 3:05:43 hours.

This was her impressive appearance following her two-year ban for 'disappearing' in Japan. "I have no words to explain how happy I am today. I want to make my country proud in the upcoming SAG," Koju said. She took home $3,000 along with the gold medal.

Completing the marathon 5 minutes 83 seconds behind Koju, Krishnashowri Sintakala of Armed Police Force (APF) won silver with the timing of 3:11:25 hours. She pocketed $2,000.

APF's Surya Maya Rai clocked 3:13:44 hours to win bronze. She was awarded with $1,000 for her effort.

In the men's half-marathon, Letar Singh Khatri of Nepal Army took the centre stage clocking 1:11:00 hours while Nepal Army's Raj Kumar Bista and Bhumi Raj Rai of Nepal Police were second and third with timings of 1:12:06 hours and 1:12:28 hours respectively.

In women's half-marathon, Brinda Shrestha of Armed Police Force (APF) won gold clocking 1:31:51 hours. Second place also belonged to APF as Geeta Khatri won the silver. Hari Devi Rajlawat Khatri finished third.  Gold, silver and bronze medal winners of the half-marathon won Rs. 25,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

In 5km race, Motilal Chaudhari and Kalyan Baniya of Nepal Army won gold and silver respectively. Narendra Bhatta of Nepal Police won bronze. 

In women's 5km, Nepal Police's Chhaya Khatri won gold while Meera Rai of People's Liberation Army won silver. APF's Sarita Tamang came third.

In 5km school, Shakuntala Budathoki, Anju Musyakho and Bimala Bhandari bagged gold, silver and bronze respectively. Likewise, Prakash Paneru, Jivan B.K and Deepak Shrestha captured first, second and third position in the men's category of 5km school.

In the wheel chair 5km, Bharat Bikram Baniya grabbed gold medal clocking 24:07:00 hours. Silver medal went to Krishna Raj Chaudhary clocked 25:08:00 hours while Tek Bahadur Gurung took the bronze in 27:00:00 hours.

In wheel chair female category, Sonika Dahal crossed the finishing line in 30:08:00 hours to win gold. Laxmi Kunwar won silver completing the race in 31:09:00 hours while Geeta Tumbahamphe took bronze clocking 40:63:00 hours.

Top three in the wheel chair category were awarded with Rs. 10,000, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 3,000 respectively.

The marathon organised at the cost of more than eight millon rupees saw more than 2,000 national and international participants.

REAL THIRD KATHMANDU MARATHON

5 KM School [ Male ]

Prakash Paneru     16:25:00

Jivan B.K.     17:41:00

Deepak Shrestha     17:42:00

5 KM School [ Female ]

Sakuntala Budhathoki     19:46:82

Anju Musyakho      20:06:46

Bimala Bhandari     20:24:28

5 KM Open [ Male ]

Moti Lal Chaudhari     15:10:74

Kalyan Baniya     15:13:70

Narandra Bhatt     15:15:10

5 KM Open [ Female ]

Chaya Khatri     19:17:70

Mira Rai      20:48:85

Sarita Tamang      21:02:63

Half Marathon [ Male ]

Letar Singh Khatri      01:11:00:00

Raj Kumar Bista      01:12:06:00

Bhumi Raj Rai      01:12:38:00

Half Marathon [ Female ]

Brinda Shrestha      01:31:51:00

Geeta Khatir      01:34:53:00

Hari Devi Rajlawat Khatri      01:35:29:00

Wheel Chair [ Male ]

Bharat Bikram Baniya      24:07:00

Krishna Raj Chaudhary      25:08:00

Tek Bahadur Gurung      27:00:00

Wheel Chair [ Female ]

Sonika Dhakal      30:08:00

Laxmi Kunwar      31:09:00

Geeta Tumbahamphe      40:63:00

Marathon [ Male ]

Arjun Kumar Basnet      02:25:36:00

Rajendra Bhandari      02:28:38:00

Uttam Khatri      02:30:02:00

Marathon [ Female ]

Kanchhi Maya Koju      3:05:43

Krishnashwori Sintakala      3:11:25

Surya Maya Rai      3:13:44

 

Posted on: 2009-09-14 10:31

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