New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) More than 5,000 people wore their running shoes on a warm Sunday for the Mawana Sugars Indian Open marathon here Sunday, with Deep Chand and Shukanya Mall winning the men’s and women’s sections respectively to each take home Rs.250,000 in prize money.
The marathon in its 21st edition, took the route that is proposed to be the course for the Commonwealth Games marathon, beginning from Princess Place.

The event, co-sponsored by Usha and Honda, has been promoting various social causes and focussing on the importance of good health. This year’s theme was ‘Energising the Spirit of Running.’

Deep Chand clocked 2:22:33 secs while Shukanya Mall took 2:59:58 to complete the course of the full marathon. Santosh Kumar (2:26:17) and K.C. Ramu (2:28:23) came second and third in the men’s section. Preetil Rao (3:04:42) Jyoti Bisht (3:12:58) were the first and second runnners up in the women’s event.

Shukanya, a BA final year student, had a string of achievements before coming here, including a first place in Airtel half-marathon.

“I had participated in the event last year and I still wonder how I came second. But this time, I have settled the score. It is very satisfying experience. I will put the prize money in my training and diet and hopefully will make India proud in Commonwealth Games,” said Shukanya, who is from Devariya, Uttar Pradesh.

In the half-marathon, Sandeep Kumar (1:6:54) and Pampa Chanda (1:19:29) took the honours in the men’s and women’s categories. They took home Rs 50,000 each. Soji Mathew (1:07:12) and Borappan (1:07:19) finished second and third in the men’s category while Rajshri Patil (1:19:30) and Geeta Rani (1:19:79) took the second and third positions in the women’s event.

The women winners of the full and half marathons had another reason to cheer about as they took home Usha Janome sewing machines.

Interestingly, all the winners, apart from the cash prizes, were also given sugar equal to their weights.

The race saw an enthusiastic participation from the students of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprashtha University (GGSIP). “This was my first participation in a half-marathon and I am thrilled to cover the entire distance. Now I am looking forward to participate in more such events,” said Saurabh, a BBA student.

In contrast, it was the 122nd half-marathon for 50-year-old Sunita Godara, a former national champion and 1992 Asian marathon champion. “I am so happy to be able to complete the distance. I have had a long association with the event, running makes me feel good,” a beaming Godara told IANS.

Siddharth Shriram, Chairman, Mawana Sugars Ltd., said: “We are happy that people have come out in great numbers to support Mawana Sugars Indian Open Marathon this year. We would come next year to support another cause.”

The total prize money this year was increased to Rs.15 Lakh and cash prizes were awarded up to the 30th position.