Marathon runner Shangkar Man Thapa from Shillong bagged the 12th Mega Marathon Manipur title in the men’s open category on Sunday while Ningthombam Chaoba Devi bagged winner in women’s open category.
Both the athletes also won a cash prize of Rs 40,000 each. The Mega marathon was flagged off by State Forest Minister Th Shyamkumar accompanied by chief patron R K Ranendrajit of Mega Marathom Manipur and president W Second of United People’s Front (UPF) from Khuman Lampak main stadium in Imphal.
With the theme ‘Run for Your Nation’, the marathon was organized by UPF Manipur under the supervision of Athletic Association of Manipur (AAM).
Shangkar Man Thapa, a resident of Happy Valley in Meghalaya’s Shillong clocked one hour three minutes and six seconds to bag first position in the men’s of the 21.5 kms long half marathon while Chaoba Devi of Luwangsangbam under Imphal East district reach the finishing line in one hour 24 minutes and 47 seconds to bag the first position in women’s category.
Another athlete L R Luther of Senapati district (one hour four minutes and three seconds) and Khaidem Roshan of Terakhongsangbi (one hour five minutes and 31 seconds) finished the second and third positions respectively of the men’s category.
In the women’s category T Russia of Ngairangbam in Imphal West district touched the finishing line in one hour 25 min and 41 seconds and bagged the second position while Sagolsem Premila of Yairipok Kekru under Thoubal district reached in one hour 26 minutes and 37 seconds to bag the third position in the same category of this year’s event.
The second and third position holders of the marathon also got a cash prize of Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. The other position holders’ runners (4th to 15th rank position holders) of both the men’s and women’s competition which was participated by around 3000 athletes, also went home richer with a cash prizes of Rs 3000 each.
The prizes were distributed during the closing function of the marathon which was attended by Manipur Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand, president L Ajit Singh of AAM and President W Second of UPF.