Delhi: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flags off 15th Half Marathon

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju flagged off the 15th Delhi Half Marathon from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday, October 20. Following a countdown, Rijiju fired a pistol in the air to begin the run. Organisers said the number of registrations for all categories in the 15th edition of the Delhi Half Marathon has soared to an all-time high of 40,633 participants. 

People participated in huge numbers

The Great Delhi Run has registered an exceptional 16,962 runners while the half marathon witnessed a spike of 11% with 13,115 participants. The 10 km run registrations witnessed a jump of 77% to 8,553. The senior citizen run received 1430 registrations, while the champions with a disability will have 573 inspiring individuals defying all odds to complete the distance. The IAAF Gold Label race has prize money of USD 275,000.

In the Indian elite line-up, Suresh Kumar, who is the winner of 2014 and 2011 edition will lead the men's line-up. In his most recent appearance for 25 kms distance run, Patel clocked a personal best of 1.04.38. In the women's category, 2017 course record holder L Suriya and 3000m steeplechase national record holder Sudha Singh will lead the race. Suriya clocked 70.31 in 2017 to create a new course record.

NDMC supported Delhi Half Marathon

This year the Delhi Half Marathon is supported by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), who will provide their expertise to ensure all the waste on the route is efficiently managed. Also, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the first time ever has associated with the event to provide special metro services. The Delhi Police had issued a traffic advisory ahead of the Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, officials said. All the runs, except the 10 km, shall be flagged off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and will also end there. The 10-km run will start from the Jai Singh Road and will finish at JLN Stadium, the officials said. 

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Kiren Rijiju felicitated Indian women boxers

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday felicitated Indian women boxers for their exceptional performance at the recently concluded Women's World Boxing Championship. The Championship was organised in Ulan-Ude, Russia. In the recently concluded World Championship, India won a total of four medals - one silver and three bronze - at the championships. The championship also witnessed India's best performance so far.

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