Vasai Virar Marathon - Over Ten Thousand ran to the save girl child

By Ancy DSouza Paladka
Bellevision Media Network

 

Mumbai, 27 Oct 2013: The 3rd Vasai-Virar Mayor’s Marathon flagged off today morning. It’s central theme, is hosted by the twin towns of Vasai-Virar in Maharashtra, India. “Save the Girl Child and Maintain Nature’s Balance” is the important message the Vasai-Virar Mayor’s Marathon hopes to spread, far and wide among the villages of Vasai-Virar Taluka.  The event is approved from the Athletics Federation of India and it became a national-level event.

 

Races were held in 17 categories and offer in excess of Rs 17 lakh as prize money and gifts were distributed. The first prize winner of The Open Full Marathon for men Rs 2 lakh, with the second and third place finishers winning Rs 1,10,000 and Rs 60,000 respectively. The Open Half Marathon for men and women won first prize of Rs 1 lakh, with the second and third place finishers won Rs 60,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

 

 

The Open Full Marathon (42.195 kms) for men and the above 50 Full Marathon for men started and finished at the new Viva College (Virar, West). The Half Marathon (21.097 kms) for Men & Women and Above 50 (Men & Women) started from outside the Vasai Tahsildar Office Kacheri, Opp. Vasai Court, Vasai Village.

 

Besides the open Full Marathon and the Half Marathons, races held for men above 50 (full marathon); men & women above 50 (half marathon); Boys under-18 (11 kms); girls under-18 (7 kms); boys 12 to 14 (3 kms); girls 12 to 14 (3 kms); boys 10 to 12 (1.5 kms); girls 10 to 12 (1.5 kms); men & women above the age of 50 (3 kms), men & women above 60 (1 km) and a Wheelchair event (1 km). Besides these races there was a Fun Run of 3 km, targeting people from all strata of life. This Fun Run  encouraged the social groups, housing societies, clubs and individuals who came dressed in costumes and won several prizes.

 

The timing and the locations of various races were as below:

6:45 am Full Marathon (42.195km) Men & Amateur Women Start (Start from New Viva College)
7:00 am Half Marathon (21.097) Men (Start from Vasai Tahsildar Kacheri,Vasai Court)
7:00 am Half Marathon Women’s Start (Start from Vasai Tahsildar Kacheri, Vasai Court)
6:55 am Boys u-18 (11 km) (Start from New Viva College)
7:00 am Boys 10 to 12 (1.5 km) (Start from New Viva College)
7:10 am Girls 10 to 12 (1.5 km) (Start from New Viva College)
7:20 am Girls u-18 (7 km) (Start from New Viva College)
7:25 am Boys 12 to 14 (3 km) (Start from New Viva College)
7:30 am Girls 12 to 14 (3 km) (Start from New Viva College)
9:00 am Men & Women above 60 (1 km) (Start from New Viva College)
9.10 am Men & Women above 50 (1 km) (Start from New Viva College)
9:30 am Fun Run (3km) (Start from New Viva College)

 

The concept of promoting talents and athletes in various sports activities is always supported by Virar-Vasai Municipal Corporation. The first Mayor Marathon was started in the year 2011 to promote the talent of local Vasai-Virar people. The  region has produced a great number of sportsmen who have done International and National duty for the country. 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.

 

As the 3rd Vasai-Virar Mayor’s Marathon had the sanction of the AFI as well as the Maharashtra Athletics Association and officials from all over the state deployed to oversee the technical conduct of the event. The event  also enjoyed the complete support of the Thane Rural Police to ensure the safe and successful conduct of the event. Besides the technical officials, there were around 100 pilot bikes and around 1000 volunteers who assisted in its smooth conduct.