Kantipur Publications Pvt Ltd is hosting its flagship event Kantipur Half Marathon on May 25, the organisers announced on Friday.

One of the major long distance running competitions of the country is expected to be participated in by more than 3000 athletes who will compete in men’s and women’s 21.1km races, 5km running event for corporate and media along with 5km wheelchair categories. The race, into its ninth edition, this year has been organised with the slogan ‘Anti-Pollution Run’.

The winners in both the categories of half marathon will ride a Hero scooter apart from claiming a cash purse of Rs 50,000. Others rounding up inside the top six of the event will get Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively. While the top three in the wheelchair race will get Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000, the podium finishers in the corporate media will get holiday packages at different destinations.

The half marathon will begin from Kantipur Publications office at the Central Business Park in Thapathali and will travel en route Maitighar, Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Lokanthali, Thimi and head back to the starting point from the same route. Kantipur Publications AGM Mahesh Swar appealed with everyone to accept the marathon whole heartedly. “We have seen how big international events like Boston Marathon or Berlin Marathon are joined by thousands of people with a huge amount of enthusiasm. We are trying to take Kantipur Half Marathon at that level,” Swar told a press conference on Friday.

“I hope we will get to find locals at different destinations cheering the runners this time. If the Nepal Athletics Association agrees to coordinate with us, we are ready to take this event to international level with involvement of high-profile foreign runners,” informed Swar. Nepal Armed Police Force Club runner Kanchi Maya Koju is the most successful runner of the annual event having claimed the title five times in the women’s half marathon. Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Hari Kumar Rimal has won the title four times.

Past Champions

Year Men’s Women’s

2011 Arjun Kumar Basnet Kanchi Maya Koju

2012 Hari Kumar Rimal Brinda Shrestha

2013 Kalyan Baniya Kanchi Maya Koju

2014 Anish Thapa Magar Kanchi Maya Koju

2015 Hari Kumar Rimal Bishwa Rupa Budha

2016 Gopi Chandra Parki Reshu Basnet

2017 Hari Kumar Rimal Kanchi Maya Koju

2018 Hari Kumar Rimal Kanchi Maya Koju

Army athlete Budha eyes second title

Bishwa Rupa Budha will be gunning for the second title of the Kantipur Half Marathon when the annual takes place on May 25 in Kathmandu.

Fresh from the recent success at the eighth National Games where she struck gold in the women’s 10,000m and silver medal in the 5,000m, the middle distance runner is looking to add the second title to the ones she clinched in 2015. She will also be looking to erase the disappointment of finishing four seconds behind champion Kanchi Maya Koju in 2017.

With five-time champion Koju’s participation still uncertain in the ninth edition of the race, Budha will be one of the favourites to win the half marathon title having skipped the previous edition due to her national team training camp. The modest Budha, however, said she is looking to improve on her personal best timing of 1:17:20 which she had set on her way to winning the CoAS Open Marathon on March 2 this year.

“I have been sitting idle since the National Games and preparation-wise I am not in proper shape. But still I am looking to improve on my personal best timing,” said the Tribhuvan Army athlete from Karnali. Budha said races like Kantipur Half Marathon will be crucial in production of new pool of athletes. “Such events will be a very good platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talents,” said the 25-year-old.

Koju of Nepal Armed Police Force Club won the women’s and Hari Rimal of Tribhuvan Army Club the men’s half marathon title last year.