Kunwar and Budha win Jumla-Rara Ultra Marathon

JUMLA: Dal Bahadur Kunwar has won the Jumla-Rara Ultra Marathon title. Kunwar of Tatopani Rural Municipality-7 came first in the competition that began from the district headquarters, Khalanga Bazaar.

Kunwar completed the marathon of 51 kilometers in five hours, 53 minutes and 17 seconds. Homlal Shrestha of Tribhuvan Army Club, who came second, completed the distance in six hours, seven minutes and 55 seconds, and Som Bahadur Rawat, who came third, completed the race in six hours, 10 minutes and 4 seconds, shared Saroj Shahi, President of Karnali Sports Club Jumla.

Likewise, Kalpana Budha won the women’s marathon by completing the distance in seven hours, 51 minutes and 32 seconds followed by Rajya Lakshmi Rawal who completed in eight hours, 48 minutes and 41 seconds, and Sandiva Budha, who came third, completed the race in eight hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds.

The winners of both the men’s and women’s ultra marathon titles received Rs 100,000, certificates and medals. The second and third place winners received Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, certificates and medals respectively.

Meanwhile, in the 10-kilometer men’s race, Hari Bohora came first, Dipendra Budha came second and Mahendra Kathayat came third. In the same race for women, Sangita Budha came first, Suresha Budha came second and Himali Bhandari came third.

In the 5-kilometer men’s category, Padmaraj Dhital came first, Naveen Chaudhary came second and Saroj Katuwal came third.

A total of 591 athletes both domestic and foreign had participated in this year’s race, which held every year to develop and promote adventure sports tourism in the region.