Jun 23, 2023

Marathon

Nepalgunj Marathon following the history

 

A wise debate sparked in the 13th South Asian Games held in Nepal. And the topic was about the first gold medalist for the South Asian Game history. As the history of the game starts from the Nepal in 1984, the first Gold won by country has vital meaning. The problem is created when we lacked the historical facts about SAAF. Despite all adverse situations we were determined to find it.

Even among the players participating in the same competition, there was no consensus. In between the cumbersome working period, we found that Nepal won four gold medals in that South Asian Game .One in athletics, two in boxing and one in the football. The gold from the football certainly was not first, many speculated that the athletics gold won from the marathon was probably not the first, because usually this race is also at the end of such big competitions. Finally, the news published on Gorkhapatra resolved all confusions. Contrary to all predictions, the marathon held at the very beginning of the first South Asian Games. The name first Gold winner was our legendary Baikuntha Manandhar. Baikundha sir himself was not sure about the fact that he was first to grab that title. However, he finished the race in 2 hours 27.11 minutes and became first.

This medal has more significance from a different point of view and it is the first medal won by Nepal in an official competition in the entire sports history. That's why it has a great historical meaning. Manandhar did not stop at this South Asian Games, he won gold in three consecutive editions, including in 1985 and 1987. Third SAAF Game held in Kolkata, India. From Nepal's point of view, Manandhar's hat-trick of gold medals will be remembered for this tournament. Perhaps there is another point of view to make it more historical and this is the record set by Manandhar while winning gold. He completed the race in 2 hours 15.03 minutes. This is the only South Asian athletics record so far, which is held by a Nepalese athlete. So far no one has been able to break it.

Nepali sports will rarely get a player like Manandhar again and again. This is also the most known name in Nepali sports. He remained a symbol of Nepali sports for a long time. He played not one, not two, but four Olympics. Which is still a record. Manandhar is a historical player in many ways. Now, the Nepali marathon may not live without him. Due to this aura created by Baikuntha Manandhar competing players also praise his way of running and further they proud on him and his ways.

Marathon as First Game in many

In 1951, New Delhi, India hosted the first Asian Games. Those were the days when the whole world was not like it is now. From politics to social structure, everything was different. Nepal also participated in the same competition. This is the first biggest sports festival that Nepal has participated in. A total of 10 players from Nepal are believed to have participated in this tournament. Who were these players? We don't have the exact answer. This is the problem of not writing history on time. At least as far as we know, one player who will be participating is Gajraj Joshi. Therefore, he is also considered as the first historical international player of Nepal. Interestingly Joshi participated in the Asian Games in the marathon. We do not have enough information about his historical participation. It is said that he could not complete the race. As far as Nepal's first international medal is concerned, we are not happy without thanking the marathon itself for that. This is a historical player, Jit Bahadur KC. Namely being Jit Bahadur, which itself means winner ? He is also a historical personality of Nepali sports. He brought in the first international medal in 1973. That year, the Asian Triac and Field was organized in the Philippines.In that he won the bronze medal, the time he completed the race was 2 hours 35.38 seconds.

Meanwhile, the discussion of the Olympics is also necessary. Before KC won the medal, Nepal had already participated in the Olympics. Nepal participated in the first Olympics in 1964. That Olympics is also special in itself, because it was the first Olympics organized by the Asian continent. On top of that, Nepal's first participation was important. Representing athletics, two players participated in it. They were, Bhupendra Silwal and Ganga Bahadur Thapa. Both did not complete the race. In 1972, it was held in Munich, West Germany, and two players also participated in it. Coincidentally, it was also a marathon. They were two players, Jit Bahadur KC and Bhakta Bahadur. Among them only Jit Bahadur completed the race. KC is probably the first athlete to complete an international marathon. The time was 2 hours 57.58 minutes.

Legacy of Nepalgunj

Indeed, the marathon and its achievements are so important for Nepali sports history. Nepalgunj is said to be a lucky city that got the opportunity to assimilate with the great legacy of Marathon. Coincidentally, the Nepalgunj Marathon held in the year 2079BS was also the first in many ways. One is that it was organized on the official route. On top of that, the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS) held a competition in its annual calendar.

Efforts were made to provide almost all the safety and comfort needed by a runner during the race. So what is the difference between it being historical? In Nepal, there are three marathons with the name of the city. Kathmandu Marathon, Pokhara Marathon and Nepalgunj Marathon. The youngest of these is the Nepalgunj Marathon. However, this is probably the most organized race, even more so than the marathon in Kathmandu.

There are many stories associated with marathons and they are often amazing. Running the actual 42.195 km is an indomitable feat in itself. Nepal is also not lacking in the marathon category, we are at the top in South Asia. This is evident from the facts mentioned at the beginning. It is also a project site directly connected to the marathon and it remains in the form of a city. It is said that the best way to see how city is civilized is how the city holds the marathon on ground.

The Nepalgunj city has given Nepali sports many outstanding athletes. Many players from Olympians to record makers are from Nepalgunj. That is why it can be said that Nepalgunj is a city of sports and athletes. Of course, there may have been some disruptions in this process before , but now it is on the way to recovery. In this background, if Nepalgunj itself considers this marathon as its own and organizes it more magnificently, then the city will benefit.

Not only for Nepalgunj, Marathon is the sole pride of Western Nepal. It would be another popular synonym to this area. Later, it can also help other economic sectors along with the sport tourism of Nepalgunj. Again, the route of Nepalgunj Marathon is the easiest, so say most of the athletes. It has a lot of potential to become a record. In this background, let us once again return to the same Baikunth Manandhar. He is sometimes surprised that his performance record has not been broken yet.

On his own words, he will be extremely happy at that time, as some will surpass his performance in Kolkata SAAF. He wants it sincerely. Is it possible for him to beat that record somewhere else, will it be in one edition Nepalgunj Marathon? This is a question left for the future. This time it was the eighth edition of the Nepalgunj Marathon. The ninth edition will be held in due date; let us make it the first in many sense from the managerial part of game to the performance part of the players. Further, let us prepare upcoming marathon as the august ceremony of city with splendid celebrations.