Minister of state Pankaj Bhoyar, mayor Neeta Thakre, and other functionaries were present at Unity Marathon organised by NMC on Saturday
Nagpur: From an 84-year-old defying age to an Ethiopian athlete racing to victory, Nagpur’s streets witnessed a celebration of endurance, sporting spirit and national unity on Saturday as over 10,000 runners participated in the Unity Marathon organised by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. Yadav completed the 21km race in 1:01:58 to finish ahead of Uttar Pradesh’s Satish Kumar Verma (1:02:24) and Rajasthan’s Mukesh Bhanu (1:03:05). In the women’s category, Aohava clocked 1:15:02, followed by Nagpur’s Yamini Thakre (1:16:18) and Ratnagiri’s Sakshi (1:17:42). One of the day’s biggest attractions was 84-year-old Shripad Burde, who completed the run, earning applause from dignitaries and fellow participants. Gaurav Khodtkar won the men’s 10km race in 29 minutes and 20 seconds, narrowly beating Dheeraj Kumar, who finished just two seconds behind. Mitali Bhoyar topped the women’s 5.3km category, while Umred’s Sumit Meshram won the boys’ under-16 5.3km race. Himanshi Bawane secured first place in the girls’ 2.5km category.
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Bhoyar said sporting initiatives help youngsters embrace healthier lifestyles while promoting national integration. Mayor Thakre said the marathon aimed to carry Patel’s message of unity to every section of society. Nagpur’s Rajan Yadav emerged victorious in the men’s category, giving the home crowd a reason to cheer While Ethiopian athlete Tsehay Aohava clinched the women’s 21km title. The marathon, which began at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ground in Lakadganj, attracted participants from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, besides international competitors. Young children also added colour to the event through a fancy dress competition, portraying historical and religious personalities. Nagpur athletes dominated several short-distance categories. The event featured prizes worth Rs11 lakh across various categories. Dhanashree Dabhade also had a memorable outing, winning an electric scooter through a lucky draw. Minister of state Pankaj Bhoyar, MLA Krishna Khopde, mayor Neeta Thakre, deputy mayor Leela Hathibed and municipal commissioner Vipin attended the event. Zumba warm-up sessions, musical performances and patriotic slogans added to the festive atmosphere, turning the early-morning sporting event into a celebration of fitness and togetherness. Download the TOI App.