Jammu: Over 6,000 participants have registered for the maiden BSF Jammu Marathon, scheduled for November 9, officials said on Friday, adding that preparations for the mega event are nearly complete.
BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary will flag off the marathon, which includes four race categories — the 42 km full marathon, 21 km half marathon, 10 km run, and a 5 km ‘Run for Fun’ open to all, Inspector General (IG) BSF Jammu Frontier Shashank Anand told reporters.
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty and J&K’s para-archer Rakesh Kumar will attend the opening and closing ceremonies. The marathon carries cash prizes of ₹1.5 lakh for the full marathon, ₹75,000 for the half marathon, and ₹50,000 for the 10 km run. Six foreign participants have also registered for the event, which will now be held annually by the Jammu BSF Frontier, Anand added.
Alongside the marathon, the BSF DG will flag off a 60-member motorcycle contingent that will travel from Jammu to Bhuj, Gujarat, for the BSF’s 60th Raising Day celebrations on November 21. “The contingent will cover areas along the Indo-Pak border in J&K, Punjab, and Rajasthan before reaching Gujarat on November 19,” Anand said.
He highlighted that the marathon promotes fitness, unity, and national pride in line with the Fit India and Khelo India initiatives, aiming to strengthen the bond between border communities and the rest of the nation.
Expressing delight at the overwhelming response, Anand said over 4,000 people registered within the first 36 hours of the event’s announcement. “We now have over 6,000 participants from across the country, including six foreigners, and more enquiries are still coming in,” he added.
A video message from Suniel Shetty was also shared by the BSF, in which the actor urged people to support the marathon. “The event celebrates fitness, unity, and our love for the nation. BSF inspires us with their courage and how they bring people together. Run with heart, run with courage, and make India proud,” he said.
Another BSF officer said the 10 km run has attracted the largest share of participants (38%), followed by 33% for the half marathon and 11% for the full marathon. There are two participant categories — 18–40 years and 40-plus, for both men and women. Most under-18 participants have registered for the 5 km and 10 km races, while over 1,600 youngsters from border villages of Jammu will also take part.
The marathon will begin with the 42 km full marathon at 5 am, followed by the 21 km race at 6 am, 10 km at 7 am, and the 5 km run at 8 am, officials said.
