CM Omar Abdullah Leads from the Front, Completes Half Marathon with Distinction
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday flagged off the 2nd Edition of the Kashmir Marathon from Polo View, Srinagar, turning the city into a vibrant celebration of fitness, endurance, and the unyielding spirit of Jammu and Kashmir.
The marathon commenced at 6:00 AM, with runners making their way along the picturesque Boulevard Road beside the iconic Dal Lake. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Kashmir, the event featured multiple categories — the Full Marathon (42 km), Half Marathon (21 km), and shorter runs for amateurs and local enthusiasts.
This year’s edition attracted over 1,100 runners from 27 States and Union Territories, along with 77 international participants from 11 countries, reaffirming Kashmir’s growing stature as a hub for sports and adventure tourism.
The flag-off ceremony was graced by several dignitaries, including Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty, MLA Zadibal Tanveer Sadiq, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, ACS to CM Dheeraj Gupta, ACS Tourism Ashish Verma, and Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob, among others. The event drew enthusiastic crowds who lined the streets to cheer on the participants.
Demonstrating his personal commitment to fitness, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself joined the Half Marathon and impressively completed the 21 km run in just over one hour and fifty minutes.
Later, sharing his experience on X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister wrote:
“Just completed the Kashmir Half Marathon. I didn’t set a personal best but I did improve on my effort last year. Congratulations to all the runners who completed the full marathon & the half marathon. Well done.”
It’s worth noting that in the first edition of the Kashmir Marathon, held on October 20 last year, the Chief Minister had also both flagged off and completed the Half Marathon event.
Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty, while addressing the gathering, said,
“People are running for Kashmir and for India. It’s inspiring to see the excitement among people of all ages. I’m delighted to be here and hope to return every year to encourage more participation.”
Expressing gratitude, Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Satish Sharma remarked,
“This marathon embodies the message of peace, love, prosperity, and brotherhood. Participants from across India and abroad symbolize unity and endurance. I extend heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sunil Shetty, and everyone who made this event a grand success.”
