Top long distance runners for Konkan Marathon

Kolhapur, Mar 18 (UNI) Top international and national long distance runners, including Monica Raut and her sister Rohini of Nagpur and Swati Ghadve of Pune, are likely to participate in the maiden Konkan Marathon, which will be flagged off on April 27 in Malvan n Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.

The event, showcasing a tourism extravagenza, is being held under the aegis of the Maharashtra Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA). It will offer a whopping total prize money of Rs five lakh.

In action will be seen the notable Raut siblings Monica and Rohini of Nagpur and gutsy Swati Ghadve of Pune, who had created history by winning the first-ever team gold for under-20 girls in the ninth edition of the Asian Cross Country championship held at Amman in Jordan on March 16.

MAAA secretary Pralhad Sawant, who is also the joint honorary secretary of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), today said the marathon has been included in the Sindhudurg Mahautsav festival to facilitate promotion of tourism in the area.

Apart from cash awards, the late Tatya Sitaram Rane Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the winners of the men's and women's events besides the usual medals along with a certificate of merit, he said.

As many as 5,000 long distance runners from 30 districts, afflitaed to the MAAA, are vying for honours in the one-day event.

Besides, men's half marathon 21 km and women's 10 km events, there will be races even for boys and girls under-18, under-16 and under-14 on the occasion, he informed.

To encourage senior citizens, races in both men's and women's categories will be conducted, Mr Sawant said.

The event would serve as a barometer to select the junior boys and girls, along with the eiite athletes, to train in the preparation of the forthcmoing 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), to be held at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City Mahalunge-Balewadi, near here, he stressed.

A selection panel, headed by former long distance ace Edward Sequiera, has been formed. It comprises former Olympian Balkrishna Akotkar and internationals like Savio D'Souza, Charulata Naigaonkar, and Bhagyashri Bile Kasgavde, he added.

UNI