The second edition of the Aizawl International Half Marathon (AIHM) was successfully held today at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Jointly organised by the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Mizoram, and Innovations India under the theme “Connecting India, Developing Mizoram, Empowering Sports,” the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from nearly 3,000 athletes.
The race commenced at 6:30 AM, with the course starting and finishing at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and passing through World Bank Road.
The marathon featured nine categories: 21.1 km Half Marathon (Men & Women), 10 km Open Race (Men & Women), 5 km Fun Race (Men & Women), 5 km Junior Race (Boys & Girls), and 5 km Senior/Veteran Race (above 60 years).
Participants represented various states across India, alongside 16 international runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, and France. The total prize pool exceeded Rs 15 lakh.
In the Men’s Half Marathon, Kenya’s Kemboi Kevin Kiprono clinched first place with a chip time of 01:06:28, winning a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000 along with a medal and certificate.
Ethiopia’s Nafsena Ejeta Balcha secured second place with a time of 01:06:38, earning Rs 1,50,000, while Kenya’s Clinton Kibet Mutai finished third at 01:06:39, receiving Rs 75,000.
Similarly, the Women’s Half Marathon saw international runners sweeping the top positions. Ethiopia’s Tsige Debay Tadese delivered a strong performance to claim the top podium finish, closely followed by Marta Hirpato Yota of Bahrain.
Together with other leading international contenders, the women’s category reflected the highly competitive global standard of this year’s race. The top three winners in the women’s half marathon category received Rs 2,00,000, Rs 1,50,000, and Rs 75,000 respectively, along with medals and certificates.
Besides the half marathon, the event featured 10 km, 5 km Fun Run, Junior, and Senior/Veteran categories, encouraging wide participation across age groups.
The marathon was flagged off by the Governor of Mizoram, Vijay Kumar Singh, who also distributed prizes to the winners. Recognised by the Athletics Federation of India and supported by the Sports Authority of India, the Aizawl International Half Marathon is steadily establishing itself as a prominent fixture in India’s sporting calendar.
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