Saint Kantipur Half Marathon: Koju wins fourth title, record for Rimal

Kanchi Maya Koju elastic stamped her control in the Hero Kantipur Half Marathon winning her fourth title as Hari Kumar Rimal conquered torment to win the men's occasion here on Saturday.

In a nearby challenge in the men's 21km marathon, Tribhuvan Army Club runner Rimal figured out how to show signs of improvement of the agony he endured in the wake of lurching right on time in the begin to beat 2014 champ Anish Thapa Magar of India Army by two seconds. Rimal won the race in 1:06:41 hours.

"I was certain that I would win the race this time and came here with an assurance whoever the rival could have been," said Rimal in the wake of winning his title in an occasion composed to stamp the 24th commemoration of Kantipur Publications. Another TAC runner Tirtha Kumar Pun completed third in 1:07:19 hours, while protecting champion was sentenced to a fourth place completing after he planned 1:08:04.

Rimal additionally timed another half marathon national record which will now go into the Nepal Athletics Association (NAA) record books. RImal broke the past best planning 1:07:12 set by Khim Giri amid the 2002 Brussels Half Marathon. "This is another national record and the NAA will survey course to enter it," said race executive Sushil Narshing Rana and boss sports mentor.

Koju, who had last won the race in 2014, returned for her most loved occasion and the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club long separation runner planned 1:19:22 hours to abandon 2015 champion and clubmate Bishwor Rupa Budha, who wound up second timing 1:19:26. "I had contended in an occasion in Darjeeling last and had maintained couple of wounds," said Koju.

"I was feeling truly awkward in the first place since I knew the opposition would have been intense this time. Yet, once I overwhelmed Bishwo Rupa at Maitighar amid the end stages, I got starting there. This race is my most loved occasion and to win this four circumstances is stunning," included Koju.

TAC's Sanu Karki completed third in 1:22:57, while safeguarding champion Reshu Basnet of TAC completed fifth with a planning of 1:26:26. The champs in both the classifications got a money handbag of Rs 50,000 alongside a Hero Dash bike each.

The second and third place finishers got Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, while the fourth, fifth and 6th place securing runners got Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 separately in both the classifications. The second place champs additionally got a portable set.

The half marathon started from Kantipur Publications' new office at the Central Business Park in Thapathali and voyaged in transit Maitighar, Babarmahal, Bijuli Bazaar, New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, Jadibuti, Gatthaghar, Sano Thimi, Sallaghari, Katunje before heading back a similar course.

Bhupendra Batala of Classroom won the men's corporate 5km race timing 18:12.08 minutes and beat Uttam Shrestha (18:18) of Theater Mall and Santosh Paudel (19:46.09) of Youth Journalism International. Santoshi Shrestha of Theater Malla triumphed in the ladies' occasion timing 19:15.07 minutes to beat Nirmala Maharjan (24:52.08) of Oyster Spa and Fitness Center and Laden Pradhan (25:22.16) of Civil Bank.

The champs in the corporate occasion got an arrival ticket to Hong Kong from Cathay Dragon, first runners-up were compensated with return ticket to Pokhara and the third place finishers won mountain flight tickets. Slam Bahadur Gurung (12:09.77) won the men's wheelchair 5km race and Lali Tamang (16:38.79) triumphed in the ladies' area. Best three in both classifications got Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.