Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon Draws Over 5,000 Runners

Gonikoppal. Sep 6: The marathon started at 6 am sharp, and the Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon, which was held from young to old, attracted over 5,000 runners.

Athletes who had arrived from various states earlier in the day had gathered at the ground by 5 am. The marathon started at 6 am sharp. Then marathons were held in various categories for half an hour.

This marathon, which was organized with the aim of fusing sports and environment on one platform and introducing the natural beauty of Kodagu with the enthusiasm of sports and spreading the message of environmental protection, received a wide response.

Athletes, sports fans and nature lovers had arrived from various states of the country.

The 5th annual Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon was organized by Cals School, Gonikoppal, Ashwini Sports Foundation in collaboration with NEB Sports Entertainment, and the Tourism Department of the Government of Karnataka under the slogan ‘Run with Nature’.

The marathon was held in three stages of 21 km, 10 km and 5 km.

A 21 km half marathon was organized for those above 18 years, 10 km for those above 14 years, and 5 km for those between 6 and 12 years. The 21 km half marathon was organized from Cals School near Gonikoppa to Tata Coffee Golf Course in Palibetta. The remaining 2 stages of the race also followed the same route up to the specified km. Prizes were awarded to the winners of the competition held in the male and female categories. This marathon is not only a sports competition but also a learning platform for students. Our aim is that they learn practical skills like teamwork, planning, responsibility management, communication, community engagement and program management,” shared Ashwini Nachappa, a former international athlete, with ‘Shakti’. 

Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon is not just a running event. Its aim is to build a sports community where people come together to participate, serve as volunteers and take responsibility for the program. Our aim was to introduce the beauty of Kodagu to people through sports, love and community. We have succeeded in this, said Ashwini Nachappa, founder of Ashwini Sports Foundation.

The first place in the 21 km. category will receive Rs. 30,000, the second place in the 20 km. category will receive Rs. 20,000, the third place in the 10 km. category will receive Rs. 15,000, and the first place in the 10 km. category will receive Rs. 10,000. 20 thousand, second 15 thousand, third Rs. 10 thousand cash prize was given. 20 students from each school of the district were provided free entry in the 5 km section.

The program was attended by dignitaries including the chairman of the organization Datta Karumbaiah.

Minister George flagged off the Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon, which started in the morning, by showing the green flag to Tourism Minister K.J. George. For the first time, the Tourism Department of the Government of Karnataka has cooperated with the marathon. He said that the large number of competitors coming from rural areas is commendable.

Virajpet MLA and Chief Minister's Political Secretary A.S. Ponnanna said that various sports are continuously being held in Kodagu, the hometown of sports. He said that the fact that CALS Educational Institution is conducting the marathon and attracting attention at the national level has further increased the glory and prestige of Kodagu.

CALS Educational Institution Chairman Datta Karumbayya, Ashwini Nachappa, State Sports Authority Vice Chairman C.S. Arun Machaya, Principal Gouramma, Federal Bank Head Rajiv, Program Coordinator Nagaraj Adiga, Organizer NEB Director Reeth Abraham, Badminton Player Ashwini Ponnappa and many other dignitaries were present. A dance performance was organized as part of the program.

Teachers and children participated in large numbers.

Disclaimer: This article has been translated by xklsv.com using advanced AI-based translation tools. Please note that the use of AI for translation is still experimental and may not be 100% accurate. The original content is sourced from shakthidaily.info, and Shakthi Daily is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies that may appear in the translated version, including spelling, grammar, or contextual misunderstandings.

If you come across any mistakes or inconsistencies in this translation, we kindly request you to report them by sending an email to [email protected]

Your feedback will help us improve the quality.

The image in this article has been generated using artificial intelligence and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It may not reflect real-world accuracy