Nepalgunj Marathon

Mar 18, 2025

Marathon Main News President Poudel Highlights Nepal’s Potential for Sports and Tourism while meeting AIMS President Paco Borao President Ramchandra Poudel emphasized that Nepal is a fertile ground for sports and tourism, with the potential to host various types of running

Khadka and Santoshi became champion of 10th Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon

by TS Thakuri

Nepalgunj, Nepal Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Khadka Bahadur Khadka claimed 10th Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon while Santoshi Shrestha clinched the women's half marathon gold for record fourth time in Banke, Nepalgunj. Khadka clocked 2 hours 17 minutes 48 seconds to complete the 42.195 km distance. Khadka's clubmates Rajan Rokaya and Sushil Kumar Shahi secured second and third positions respectively. Rokaya clocked 2:17:53 and Shahi took 2:21:45 to finish the distance. The top three finishers walked away with purses of NRs 200,000, NRs 100,000 and Rs 50,000. And, Santosh Bikram Bist from Armed Police Forced secured fourth position with 2:44:57, Rudra Budhathoki from Dang secured fifth with 3:19:32, Man KC(Dang) got sixth with 3:21:07, Nirmal Kunwar(Nepalgunj) secured seventh with 3:39:46, Khem Bahadur Shahi(Nepalgunj) secured 8th position with 3:46:45, Bharat Kumar Shrestha(Nepalgunj) secured 9th position with 4:14:04 and Mangale Tamang(Nepalgunj) secured 10th position with 4:18:56. Winner Khadka and the runner up Rokaya also set a new course record at the marathon surpassing the previous best timing of 2:20:28 . The marathon organised by Creative Hands started from the gate of Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan City and finished at the same point going through Kohalpur Municipality - Baniyabhar before turning back. Khadka, who had finished eighth during his first attempt at the Nepalgunj at the first edition of the Nepalgunj marathon, said that he was delighted to secure the title for the second time. He had claimed maiden Nepalgunj title in 2022. Santosh Bikram Shahi secured fourth position while Rudra Budathoki finished fifth, Manakaran KC sixth, Nirmal Kunwar seventh, Khem Bahadur Shahi eighth, Bharat Kumar Shrestha ninth Mangal Tamang tenth places respectively. They all had their share of cash prizes. Santoshi Shrestha, the winner of the women's half marathon, took 1 hour 17 minutes 30 seconds to finish the half marathon. Pushpa Bhandari (1:19:12) and Bimala Karki (1:49:15) secured silver and bronze medals. The top three finishers in the women's half marathon earned purses of Rs 75,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. Along with men's marathon and women's half marathon, the event also featured school level 5km races for boys and girls, 5 km corporate run, 5km tricycle and 5km walkathon events and 500m kids run among others. In the school boys event (outside Banke district) Bikash BK, Ajay Pandey Chhetri, and Ramesh Budha finished first, second and third respectively. In the school boys race for Banke district, Arbind Yadav, Amrit Shahi and Bijay Khadka earned top three spots respectively. The kids 500m run for boys saw Rajan Tharu, Narayan Saud and Arun Khatik finish in top three positions respectively. In the kids 500m run for girls, Minakshi Saud, Pujan Birat and Anjali Sejuwal came in the top three positions respectively. The corporate 5km race saw Yogesh Malla, Dr. RK Lamichhane and Madhu Sunar earn first, second and third spots respectively. Rajesh Harijan and Mina Kumari Nepali secured first and second positions respectively in the tricycle. The Nepalgunj Marathon started to commemorate the comprehensive peace accord between the Government of Nepal and rebel Maoist on November 21, 2006, according to the marathon founder TS Thakuri. Meanwhile, the event organizer Creative Hands also feted the individuals and the organisation that have been supporting the event since its inception with 'Dasak Ratna Samman'. According to Creative Hands' president TS Thakuri, KL Dugar Group CEO Pradeep Chhajer, Angel's School principal Bina Malla, Bright Land College principal Vijay Lama, Kantipur Television CEO Shishir Pachhai, Race Director Chandra Gurung, Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan, Kohalpur Municipality, PABSON Banke and Dainik Nepalgunj editor Jhalak Gaire were feted during the closing ceremony. Meanwhile, senior actor Madan Krishna Shrestha was also given a civic felicitation and letter of appreciation.

Marathon

Kenya’s Julius Mwiruki and Nepal’s Santoshi Shrestha Win Kathmandu25K Nepal Heritage Run

by Kapil Thapa

Kapil Thapa/Kathmandu Kenya’s Julius Mwiruki and Nepal’s Santoshi Shrestha claimed victory in the Kathmandu 25-kilometer Nepal Heritage race. In the men’s 25K race, Julius Mwiruki from Kenya finished first with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 48 seconds. Tribhuvan Army Club’s Binod Rokaya came in second, clocking 1 hour 17 minutes and 11 seconds, while Sushil KC secured third place with 1 hour 18 minutes and 51 seconds. On the women’s side, Nepal’s "golden runner" Santoshi Shrestha dominated the race from the start and won the title with a time of 1 hour 31 minutes and 43 seconds. Army runner Nisha Sarki finished second with 1:32:31, and APF’s Pushpa Bhandari came in third with 1:38:09. Winners in both men’s and women’s 25K categories received NPR 100,000, runners-up got NPR 50,000, and third-place finishers were awarded NPR 25,000. <h3>In the 5K Youth (U-18) Category:</h3> <ul> <li> Men: Ajay Pandey Kshetri finished first in 17:12, followed by Sandeep Century in 17:44, and Amrit Bishwakarma came third in 18:13. </li> <li> Women: Asmita Bhujel topped the race in 21:47.66. Bhagwati Khadka (22:27.87) and Ayushma Acharya (23:30.78) followed in second and third positions respectively. </li> </ul> <h3>In the 5K Veterans Category:</h3> <ul> <li> Men: Dharma Maharjan won the title with a time of 18:31.15, followed by Lep Sang Tamang in second and Ram Chandra Shrestha in third. </li> <li> Women: Sharmila Basnet claimed first place in 26:19.79, with Kalpana Maharjan second and Keshari Thapa Magar Gurung third. Kalpana finished in 22:27.87 and Keshari in 23:30.79. </li> </ul> Winners in both U-18 and Veteran 5K categories received NPR 10,000, while the second and third positions were awarded NPR 6,000 and NPR 3,000, respectively. The 25K route started from Dasharath Stadium and passed through Kupondole, Patan Krishna Mandir, Gwarko, Tinkune Airport, Gaushala, Kalopul, Kamalpokhari, Haktisar, Lainchaur, Swayambhu Tahachal, Basantapur, before returning to Dasharath Stadium. Winners were awarded by Tanklal Ghising, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, and Paco Borao, President of AIMS, among other dignitaries.

Marathon

Yubaraj and Deepsikha Win Titles at Gaughat Green Run

Banke: Yubaraj Budha and Deepsikha Shahi have won the titles of the Gaughat Green Run, organized with the objective of raising local awareness on the global issue of climate change. The Gaughat Green Run, a sister event of the Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon certified by AIMS—which has been held regularly for the past 11 years—was launched last year. This year’s champions are Yubaraj Budha from Jumla in Karnali Province and Deepsikha Shahi from Kohalpur, Banke. In the 5 km open men’s category held at Sitapur, Khajura Rural Municipality, Arvind Kumar Yadav from Narainapur secured second place, while Yamraj Khatri from Jumla finished third. In the 2.5 km open women’s category, Deepsikha of Kohalpur took first place, followed by Swastika Shahi of Kohalpur in second, and Radha Sunar of Bardiya in third. In the 5 km school boys’ category, Dhaniram Khatik of Gyanodaya Secondary School placed first, Nikes Khatri of Janata Secondary School came second, and Yusuf Bik of Amar Secondary School was third. Likewise, in the 2.5 km school girls’ category, Vinisha LG of Amar Secondary School finished first, Prashansa BC of Yogini Secondary School second, and Vinita Pulami of Amar Secondary School third. The winners were awarded cash prizes and medals by Khajura Rural Municipality Chairperson Dambar Bik “Tufan”, Lumbini Province Sports Council Member Secretary Tiran Gautam, Miss Nepal World 2023 Shrichchha Pradhan, CEO of KL Dugar Group Pradeep Chhajed, Ward Chair Dhanram Oli, and world-class Kenyan runner John Kelai. At the event, Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon Goodwill Ambassador Miss Nepal World 2023 Shrichchha Pradhan remarked that “nature should be regarded as our first teacher.” She emphasized that humanity’s survival depends on protecting nature. “Running connects communities and promotes health,” she said. “From today, let’s all work to discourage the use of plastics and build a healthier society.”   Just on Monday, both Shrichchha Pradhan and Commonwealth Games 2010 gold medalist John Kelai were appointed as goodwill ambassadors of the Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon. Khajura Rural Municipality Chairperson Dambar Bik expressed that the Green Run, aimed at spreading awareness, had effectively conveyed its message through the involvement of major public figures, and pledged the municipality’s continued support. Similarly, Lumbini Province Sports Council’s Member Secretary Tiran Gautam said that such unique concept runs help promote peace, unity, and goodwill in society. Banke: Yubaraj Budha and Deepsikha Shahi have won the titles of the Gaughat Green Run, organized with the objective of raising local awareness on the global issue of climate change. The Gaughat Green Run, a sister event of the Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon certified by AIMS—which has been held regularly for the past 11 years—was launched last year. This year’s champions are Yubaraj Budha from Jumla in Karnali Province and Deepsikha Shahi from Kohalpur, Banke. In the 5 km open men’s category held at Sitapur, Khajura Rural Municipality, Arvind Kumar Yadav from Narainapur secured second place, while Yamraj Khatri from Jumla finished third. In the 2.5 km open women’s category, Deepsikha of Kohalpur took first place, followed by Swastika Shahi of Kohalpur in second, and Radha Sunar of Bardiya in third. In the 5 km school boys’ category, Dhaniram Khatik of Gyanodaya Secondary School placed first, Nikes Khatri of Janata Secondary School came second, and Yusuf Bik of Amar Secondary School was third. Likewise, in the 2.5 km school girls’ category, Vinisha LG of Amar Secondary School finished first, Prashansa BC of Yogini Secondary School second, and Vinita Pulami of Amar Secondary School third. The winners were awarded cash prizes and medals by Khajura Rural Municipality Chairperson Dambar Bik “Tufan”, Lumbini Province Sports Council Member Secretary Tiran Gautam, Miss Nepal World 2023 Shrichchha Pradhan, CEO of KL Dugar Group Pradeep Chhajed, Ward Chair Dhanram Oli, and world-class Kenyan runner John Kelai. At the event, Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon Goodwill Ambassador Miss Nepal World 2023 Shrichchha Pradhan remarked that “nature should be regarded as our first teacher.” She emphasized that humanity’s survival depends on protecting nature. “Running connects communities and promotes health,” she said. “From today, let’s all work to discourage the use of plastics and build a healthier society.” Just on Monday, both Shrichchha Pradhan and Commonwealth Games 2010 gold medalist John Kelai were appointed as goodwill ambassadors of the Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon. Khajura Rural Municipality Chairperson Dambar Bik expressed that the Green Run, aimed at spreading awareness, had effectively conveyed its message through the involvement of major public figures, and pledged the municipality’s continued support. Similarly, Lumbini Province Sports Council’s Member Secretary Tiran Gautam said that such unique concept runs help promote peace, unity, and goodwill in society. The Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon, whose route is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), will hold its 11th edition on December 7 (Mangsir 6). Registration for the event has already opened.The Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon, whose route is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), will hold its 11th edition on December 7 (Mangsir 6). Registration for the event has already opened.

GET RECENT UPDATES, POSTS & ARTICLES

Blogs

Marathon Main News President Poudel Highlights Nepal’s Potential for Sports and Tourism while meeting AIMS President Paco Borao President Ramchandra Poudel emphasized that Nepal is a fertile ground for sports and tourism, with the potential to host various types of running

Khadka and Santoshi became champion of 10th Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon

Marathon

Kenya’s Julius Mwiruki and Nepal’s Santoshi Shrestha Win Kathmandu25K Nepal Heritage Run

Marathon

Yubaraj and Deepsikha Win Titles at Gaughat Green Run