Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today flagged off the second edition of the Kashmir Marathon from Polo View, Srinagar, marking a vibrant celebration of fitness, resilience and the indomitable spirit of Jammu and Kashmir.

The race began at 6:00 AM from Polo View, with runners traversing the scenic Boulevard Road along the banks of the Dal Lake. The marathon was organised by the Department of Tourism, Kashmir, featuring multiple categories including the Full Marathon (42 km), Half Marathon (21 km), and shorter runs for amateurs and local participants.

This year’s edition saw over 1,100 runners from 27 States and Union Territories of India, along with 77 foreign participants from 11 countries, underscoring Kashmir’s emergence as a premier destination for sports and adventure tourism.

The Chief Minister was joined at the flag-off ceremony by Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty, MLA Zadibal Tanveer Sadiq, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, ACS Tourism Ashish Verma, Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob and other senior civil and police officers.

The dignitaries, along with enthusiastic locals, cheered the runners as they set off on their route through the heart of Srinagar.

In a display of personal commitment to fitness and public engagement, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also participated in the Half Marathon and successfully completed the 21-kilometre run in just over one hour and fifty minutes.

Later, sharing his experience on X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister posted:

“Just completed the Kashmir Half Marathon. I didn’t set a personal best but I did improve on my effort last year. Congratulations to all the runners who completed the full marathon & the half marathon. Well done.”

It may be recalled that during the first edition of the Kashmir Marathon held on October 20 last year, the Chief Minister had also flagged off and completed the half marathon event.

Speaking at the event, Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty said, “People are running for Kashmir and for India. It’s beautiful to witness the excitement among people of all ages. I am delighted to be here and will try to return every year to encourage greater participation.”

Expressing gratitude, Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Satish Sharma said:

“This marathon spreads the message of peace, love, prosperity, and brotherhood. Participants, including runners from different countries, are part of this celebration of unity and endurance. I thank Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, actor Sunil Shetty, and everyone who contributed to making this event a success.”