Over 800 runners participate in Zoon Run

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

BARAMULLA, June 28: More than 800 runners from across the country participated in the Zoon Run - Festival of Baramulla Marathon, which concluded on Sunday in a vibrant sporting atmosphere, with winners across categories being felicitated with cash prizes.

The event featured 5-km, 10-km and half marathon (21-km) races for men and women across multiple age groups. Organisers said the marathon aimed to promote fitness, sportsmanship and sports tourism in the region.

In the half marathon, Hansraj won the men's title with a timing of 1:11:30, followed by Manoj Kumar Singh and Balvinder Singh. In the women's category, Sonya Mohan Pramanik secured first place in 1:45:00, ahead of Gurpreet Kaur and Kshirasagara Ramaasmita. In age-group categories, Hansraj and Zanab Farheen Fayaz topped the under-35 section, while Manoj Kumar Singh and Sonya Mohan Pramanik led the 36-45 group. Joga Singh and Kshirasagara Ramaasmita won the 46-55 category, and Krishan Kumar along with Jyoti Prova Dutta Khanikar emerged winners in the 56-and-above group.

In the 10-km race, Ajay Kumar and Shamshad Bano clinched the men's and women's overall titles respectively, while Barkat Ali and Harmehar Kaur won the 5-km events. Around 350 participants, including over 120 women, competed in the 5-km race, making it the most popular category. Nearly 40 children below 10 years of age also took part in a special run.

A two-day Bib Expo was organised ahead of the event to facilitate participants and showcase local culture. The marathon, held in Baramulla, concluded with a prize distribution ceremony where top performers were felicitated.