The 10th edition of the annual Kantipur Half Marathon is set to take place on June 4 in the capital with the slogan 'climate change.'

The event, which had been stalled for the past two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, will feature events in three different categories–21.1km half marathon, corporate 5km race and wheelchair race, according to organisers. NIC Asia Bank is the main sponsor of the event.

"We are expecting a participation of around 4,000 runners in the event," Kantipur Publications assistant general manager Mahesh Swar said at a press conference on Friday. "Each runner will be given a plant with the symbolic motive of making the city and country go green."

The event, also recognised by Nepal Athletics Association (NAA), will have the hashtag #runforgreennepal and #climatechangecrisis. Only those above 18 years of age will be eligible to compete in the half marathon.

"The marathon, which was initiated for the first time in February 2011 to mark the anniversary of Kantipur Publications, has established itself as one of the biggest athletics events of the country. Thus we decided to change the concept from anniversary celebration to city marathon," added Swar.

NAA president Rajiv Shah thanked Kantipur Publications for organising the prestigious event. "We have always been supporting trademark events like Kantipur Half Marathon," he said, adding that the association will provide all the necessary technical support for the event.

All three events will kick off from Kantipur Publications' office premises at Thapathali. The half marathon will traverse through Maitighar, Baneshwar, Tinkune, Koteshwar, Jadibuti, Lokanthali, Gatthaghar, Thimi, Sallaghari and return via the same route before finishing at the starting point.

Nepal APF Club runner Kanchi Maya Koju is the most successful female athlete in the women's event, winning the title on five occasions while Hari Kumar Rimal is the most successful runner in the men's event having secured top finish on four occasions.

The top five finishers in both men's and women's category will be rewarded with a purse of Rs100,000, Rs50,000, Rs30,000, Rs20,000 and Rs10,000 respectively.

The winner of the corporate event will get a Pokhara tour package, the runner up will get Nagarkot package and the third-placed finisher will get a mountain flight ticket.

The winners of the wheelchair race will get Rs30,000, Rs20,000 and Rs10,000 respectively.

The registration for the event has already begun and will be open until May 31. The registration form is available at the Publication's office and can also be found online.

The British College, Pathshala Nepal Foundation, Citizen Life Insurance, Turkish Airlines, KFC, Pizza Hut, Hams Hospital, Dish Home Fibre Net and Well Done Advertising are the co sponsors of the event.