Thane all set for marathon to be held on July 23

Thane, July 20 (UNI) More than forty thousand people will participate in the 17th Thane Mayor's Varsha Marathon being held in the city on July 23, according to the city Mayor Rajan Vichare.

Addressing media persons here last night Mr Vichare said that the main attraction of the events this year will be a special run for the senior citizens of the city.

He said that the district being predominantly tribal dominated a large number of tribals from the interior of the district would also participate in the event which will be flagged off from the Mahapalika Bhavan, the civic headquarters.

More than two dozen civic officers have been working round the clock since the last two months to make the event a grand success, he said.

The total prize money will be to the tune of Rs five lakhs and the Corporation will foot the other expenses for the Marathon, he added.

He further said that the entire event will be telecast live in certain channels and could be viewed al over the world.

The Mayor has appealed to the citizens of the city to come out of their homes on Sunday and cheer the participants in the run, he said.

Thane is all set for the 17th Varsha Marathon which is organised by Thane Municipal Corporation in association with Thane district athletic association under the aegis of Maharashtra athletic association.

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thakarey will flagg off this marathon at 0900 hrs at Mahapalika Bhavan which will be attended by opposition leader of Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam, BJP leader Gopinath Munde, member of Rajya Sabha and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, Sanjay Raut, member of Legislative Assembly Subhash Desai, Shiv Sena Secretary Vinayak Raut, Mayor of Greater Mumbai Corporation Datta Dalvi, Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation Sanjay Sethi.

Approximately 40,000 participated including national and international players have registered their entries from all over the Maharashtra for this marathon.

The marathon will be held in eight categories.

The 21 km run for men offers a first prize of Rs 51,000, while the runner up will get Rs 30,000 whereas Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 for the third and fourth place, respectively. The 15 km run for women offers a first prize of Rs 35,000 and for runner up Rs 25,000. Beside this Rs 15,000 and Rs 12,000 for the third and fourth place, respectively.

On this occasion special medical teams with ambulance will be present at Mahapalika Bhavan and even at various booths on marathon route.

Just before the events the participants will pay tribute to those killed in the recent bomb blast in Mumbai.

At the same time Sena executive president Uddav will also hand over Rs one lakh to each of the two familes of the policemen killed in the mob violence in Bhiwandi recently, the Mayor announced.

UNI XR MJ DH HT1852