the goan I network
PANAJI
Over 5,000 runners from India and abroad are expected to take part in the ninth edition of the Skechers Performance Goa River Marathon on December 9. While most competitive long-distance athletes will be coming from the African continent, Europe and Americas are also expected to be represented at the only full-marathon to be held in the state and organised by Vasco Sports Club.
Participants from over 12 foreign countries including, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, USA, Finland, Chile, Bangladesh,United Kingdom, Germany and Russia; will be in action in various categories apart from the full marathon with prize-money of over Rs 7 lakh being on offer. The largest contingent of domestic runners will be from Maharashtra followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana along with others from the state and beyond.
The full marathon, half-marathon and 10km races will be flagged off from the Joggers park at Chicalim at 4.30 am, 6 am and 6.30 am. The five-km run will begin at 9 am. An all-new, event tee shirt incorporating the distinct Vasco Sports Club insignia was unveiled at the media conference on Thursday.
Vasco Sports Club president Nitin Bandekar stressed on the 5km event as a means to encourage families and youngsters in particular, to start running. Secretary, Rakesh Unny believes that once a participant begins in this event, it does not take long to convert that start into a 10km entry for the subsequent year as the number of Goans have gone up with every edition of Goa River Marathon (GRM).
When asked about the impact of GRM on tourism, Unny explained: “The GRM has grown over the years and participants are travelling to the state from all over with their families and friends. All hotels in Vasco and the southern coastal belt get fully booked in the recent years while in the early editions, only the Vasco hotels were full. Now the participants are even staying in Panaji hotels.”
Goa Athletic Association will provide technical support to GRM.
“This is one of the best organised events at par with the best in the country and I congratulate Vasco SC team for putting up a marathon event of high repute,” said secretary Paresh Kamat.
The Skechers Performance Goa River Marathon’s special features include an official recognition by the Association of International Marathons and Distance races (AIMS) and the course distances are marked for accuracy by the international athletics body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Registrations for the marathon are open on www.goarivermarathon.com.
As the full marathon winner’s purse is a modest Rs 50,000, there is definite scope for improvement in the quality of athletes attracted by increasing the amount. Thereby is the opportunity to make the GRM, which is already counted amongst the top 10 such events in the country, bigger and better in the milestone 10th edition next year.
