First Vasai Marathon of 15 lakh prize money is started

By Ancy DSouza Paladka
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 18 Sept 2011: The first Vasai Marathon to spread the message "Save the Girl Child and Maintain Nature’s Balance” is started at 7am today. Former Asian track queen P T Usha is the  brand ambassador of the event. This marathon offers prize money in excess of Rs 15 lakh spread across the 10 race categories to attract the best athletes from the state. The event flagged from Viva College in Virar and travels through Nallasopara and Vasai before finishing in Varar. The organisers expect 25000 participants in the various categories.

The Open Full Marathon for men offers a first prize of Rs. 1 lakh, with the second and third place finishers winning Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively. The Open Half Marathon for women offers a first prize of Rs. 51,000, with the second and third place finishers taking home Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively. The top three winners are also be provided with trophies.

 

 

 

While there is a prize money for the top ten places, finishers between 11th to 20th positions are given gift vouchers, while the finishers between 21st to 100th positions are awarded certificates.

All finishers of the Full Marathon and Half Marathon are also awarded with finishers medals.There are also separate prizes for the top finishers from Vasai-Virar Taluka.

Besides the Full Marathon and the Half Marathon, races is held for Men under-20 (11kms); Boys under-17 (7 kms); Girls under-17 (5 kms); Boys under-14 (5 kms); Girls under-14 (3 kms); Men & Women above the age of 50 (3 kms) (1 km) and a Fun Run (3 kms).

The open Full Marathon for men and open half marathon for women flagged off at 7.00 a.m today; followed by the 5km run for girls under-17 at 7.10 a.m; the 11 km run for boys under-20 at 7.20 a.m; the 7km run for boys under-17 at 7.30 a.m.; the 3km run for boys under-14 at 7.45 a.m.; the 3km run for girls under-14, the Senior Citizens Run (above 50) at 10.15 a.m and the Dhamaal Run at 10.30 a.m.

Shri Rajiv Patil mayor of Vasai Virar Muncipal Corporation has said that 14 water stations along the route, from which around 60,000 200ml bottles of water are being distributed during the event. Besides water, around 6,000 tetra packs of energy drink Enerzal is be distributed. To ensure a safe run for the participants, there are a base medical camp at Viva College, nine medical stations along the race route, staffed by 76 doctors from Seven Hills Hospital and supported by doctors from the Vasai-Virar Mahanagar Pallika. There are eight fully equipped cardiac ambulances stationed along the route as well as arrangements with 17 mini hospitals along the route to handle any emergencies. The participants are provided a traffic-free route to ensure a satisfying running experience, besides which refreshment packages are provided to participants of all race categories. Free transport to and from Virar station to the start/finish point is be provided on race day to ensure that participants reach the venue without undue hassle.

The Vasai-Virar region has produced a great number of sportsmen who have done International and National duty for the country and they will now have n important roles to play in the conduct of the first Vasai-Virar Mayor’s Marathon. Some of the prominent names are Olympian Anand Menezes, Vijay Choudhary, Kelzi Dias, Macson D’Silva, Gautami Raut, Meghana Dewang, Harshad Mhatre, Rohan Rewale, Ramashankar Bharti, Darshana Khandekar, Ankush Padwale, Saraswati Jaiswal, Kajal Dalvi and Priyanka Golipkar, to name a few.