At the flag hoisting ceremony, he was accompanied by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, and Abdullah praised the organizers for bringing this extraordinary event to life. He said such an important event will showcase the beauty of the land to the world, encouraging visitors to explore the picturesque landscapes of Kashmir.
The marathon attracted some elite long-distance runners, including Asian gold medalists and top athletes from Europe and Africa. Abdullah expressed his excitement over the potential of the Kashmir Marathon, hoping that it will become an important part of the global athletic calendar.
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“I am grateful to the people of Srinagar for the way they encouraged the runners. I hope the Kashmir Marathon becomes one of the biggest events in the world. I congratulate everyone who competed in the event. I didn’t know that. “I could run 21 kilometers, as the longest I’ve run before was 12 or 13 km, but I think running with other athletes pushed me to complete the race,” he said.
Organized by the Tourism Department, the marathon aims to highlight the “improved” conditions in the valley and promote Kashmir as a tourist-friendly destination. The Director of Tourism, Raja Yaqoob, highlighted the importance of the event to send a message of peace and attract visitors worldwide.
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Actor Suniel Shetty also praised the participation and expressed his admiration for the opportunity to run 42 kilometers in the stunning landscape of Kashmir, calling it a “paradise for marathon enthusiasts”.
Earlier, Abdullah had said that his government will not run on the voting pattern seen in the assembly elections as he wants to see the “lost smiles” on the faces of people in both divisions of the Union Territory again ( UT).
Abdullah, who recently took charge of the new government in Srinagar, received a rapturous reception upon arriving at the National Conference (NC) headquarters in the winter capital.
This was Abdullah’s first visit to Jammu after becoming chief minister and his party won 42 seats and secured 23.43 per cent of the votes. Its alliance partner Congress won six seats and the CPI(M) one.
(With contributions from the PTI)
(Edited by: Jerome Antonio)
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