Kolkata Marathon, for a distance of 42.2 km, to kick off on Feb 3

Kolkata, Jan 30 (UNI) The Kolkata Marathon, which is now a part of the national marathon calendar, with AIAF recognition, will kick off on February 3, for a distance of 42.2 km, with a call-up for the Beijing Olympic camp at stake.

Announcing this here today, Bengal Marathon Association secretary Swapan Raha said, ''The Kolkata Marathon has got the recognition of the All India Athletic Federation (AIAF) and the top five long distance sprinters will get a call for the camp for the Beijing Olympics.'' The main marathon is of a distance of 42.2 kms with a prize money of Rs three lakh while the women's marathon, with a distance of 10.5 kms, has a prize of Rs one lakh. The total expenditure for the marathon is Rs 10,20,000.

Already some of the big names from the country have enlisted for the marathon. They include Arun Mahato, Mahesh Singh, Omkar Chandra in the men's marathon, and Pompa Chandra, Shivani Das, Kavita Rao and last three times women's champion Reena Das, in the women's marathon.

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