Kantipur Publications Pvt Ltd is all set to organise the eighth Kantipur-Runner Half Marathon on May 19 with 2500 runners expected this edition.

Amidst a press conference on Wednesday, Corporate Manager of Kantipur Publications Sishir Pachai said the annual event will feature half marathon, corporate/media 5km race and wheelchair race in men’s and women’s category. All the events will begin from Publications office premises in Thapathali and finish at the same point.

“The runners must complete 18 years of age in order to compete in the half marathon,” said Pachai about the 21.1 km race that is organised under technical support of Nepal Athletics Association and National Sports Council. The organisers have expected participation of more than 2500 runners in the event. The registration for the event is open until May 12.

The winners of both men’s and women’s half marathon will get Runner Kite Plus scooter in addition to cash prize of Rs 30,000 apiece. Raman Motors, the authorized distributors of Runner Motorbikes in Nepal, is the title sponsor of the event.

The event previously organised on Falgun 7 annually to mark the anniversary of Kantipur Publications has been rescheduled with the view to widen the horizon of the marathon. “We have detached it from the anniversary of Publications to widen the horizon of the game as we have aimed it to make it an international event in future,” said Mahesh Swar, the assistant general manager of Kantipur Publications.

Nepal Athletics Association chief coach Amiri Prasad Yadav said that the marathon was one of the prestigious events and most of the technical jobs including route measurement have been completed.

The half marathon begins from Thapathali and will go through Maitighar, Bijulibazar, New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, Gatthaghar, Sano Thimi, Sallaghari and return via same route before finishing at the Publication’s office at the Central Business Park. Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Hari Kumar Rimal and Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club’s Kanchi Maya Koju are half marathon holders.

The winners of the 5km race in both men’s and women’s category will get Kathmandu-Hong Kong return air ticket and the runners up will bag Kathmandu-Pokhara return air ticket with two nights stay for couple. The third place finishers will get mountain flight ticket. The top three finishers of the wheelchair race will bet Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.