Pune: The 38th Pune International Marathon, an iconic event in the city’s sports calendar, saw enthusiastic participation from residents across categories.
Commencing in the early hours of Sunday (December 1) as a "Night Marathon," the event included a 10 km race, a 5 km race, and a wheelchair race, drawing a spirited response from the community.
The marathon began at 3:00 AM at Sanas Ground. The 10 km race started at 6:30 AM, followed by the 5 km race at 7:00 AM. The wheelchair race was also held shortly thereafter.
Notable dignitaries, including Sandeep Atole (Superintendent, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Aurangabad) and Shankar Shinde (Deputy Superintendent, Beed), flagged off the 10 km race.
Prashant Jagtap (Pune city president, NCP Sharadchandra Pawar) inaugurated the 5 km race, while the wheelchair race was flagged off by Abhay Chhajed, president of the Pune International Marathon Trust.
Union Minister and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol commended the marathon’s 38-year history, emphasizing that the event has consistently enjoyed support from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) despite changes in its administration.
Mohol assured his continued support for the marathon, reinforcing its significance for Pune.
Results Summary:
10 km Race:
Men: 1st - Abhinandan Suryavanshi, 2nd - Yunus Shah, 3rd - Narendra Singh
Women: 1st - Riya Dhotre, 2nd - Sakshi Bhandari, 3rd - Shivani Chaurasia
5 km Race:
Men: 1st - Saurabh Mehra, 2nd - Uttam Patil, 3rd - Omkar Jadhav
Women: 1st - Mansi Yadav, 2nd - Vaishnavi Sawant, 3rd - Priya Gulve
Wheelchair Race (3 km):
Men: 1st - Somnath Yadav, 2nd - Girish Savvasher, 3rd - Om Shinde
Women: 1st - Bhagyashree Majire, 2nd - Trupti Choradia, 3rd - Komal Mali
The marathon routes spanned iconic city landmarks. The 10 km race followed a Sanas Ground-Sarasbaug-Sinhagad Road-Hingne path, while the 5 km race covered a Sanas Ground-Sinhagad Road-Panmal route. The wheelchair race traced a Sanas Ground-Sinhagad Road-Dandekar Bridge circuit.
Crowds gathered in large numbers along the routes, clapping and cheering to encourage the participants. The event concluded successfully, reinforcing Pune’s reputation as a hub for sports and community spirit.