Khagendra Wins Marathon

Kathmandu: Nepal Army’s Khagendra Bhatta grabbed the second Annapurna Marathon title by winning a cash prize worth Rs 1,50,000, Tuesday, June 3, 2019.

Khagendra finished 42.194 km marathon in 4 hours, 6 minutes and 53 seconds. The event was conducted from May 31 to June 3, 2019, on the occasion of celebration of second Annapurna Sanctuary Tourism festival.

Fifty five participants had participated in the marathon. The marathon extending from Annapurna base camp to Ghandruk had started from Annapurna base camp and passed through Machhapuchare base camp, Bagar, Deurali, Dhoban, Sinuwa, Bhanuwa, Chhomrong, Ghurjung, Tandapani and Bhaisikharka and finished at Ghandruk.

Army’s Hari Kumar Rimal secured the second position, who was a winner last year. Rimal had finished his run in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds, while the army’s Gopal Tamang secured his third position.

The second cash prize was Rs 75,000 and third was Rs 55,000 according to Lalit Gurung, the main convener of the Annapurna Sanctuary Tourism Festival.

The festival is observed to commemorate the successful ascent of Annapurna mountain by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.