The First International Chandigarh Marathon being organized by ‘Sports 13’ in association with Chandigarh Administration, Sports Department Chandigarh, Athletic Federation of India, and Chandigarh Athletic Association will take place on 10th December, 2017 (International Human Rights Day) at the Capitol Complex, Chandigarh from 6 am onwards.

Announcing the mega event at a press conference held today at the UT Guest House, Mr Jatinder Yadav, IAS, Director Tourism, UT Chandigarh, said, “We are expecting a participation of over 15,000 fitness and sports enthusiasts from the tricity and the region and also the athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and Japan are likely to join us in this grand initiative.”

There will be separate categories for Indian and International men and women, besides the veteran male and female categories for 40 plus and 60 plus age groups and few other groups. There will be a Special Run for School Children – School Cool Run – 3 Km with a theme of “A campaign against child assault”; and a Special Run for Females – Femithon – 5 km, with a theme of “Women lets stand up for our rights”. A Divyang wheelchair Run will also be held & entry will be free for same. The route measurement shall be certified by AIMS.

It was informed that a 3-day Marathon Expo will take place prior to the main event at Leisure Valley, Sector 10,Chandigarh on 7-8 December between 11 am to 8 pm for local participants and on 9 December for the outstation candidates. A 2-day special Marathon Clinic will also be organized by Asian Gold Medalist Dr Sunita Godara.

The participants will get goodie bags, marathon T-shirts, healthy refreshment, water and a route map. There will be medals for all competitive runners and online certificates will be provided for all the participants. Arrangements for public utilities, CCTV cameras, kid zone, baggage counter, and cool zone shall be made. Other attractions include a live band performance, health talkies, eatable stalls, selfie counter.

First time real and reel Milkha will be running together i.e. Flying Sikh Milkha Singh and the Junior Milkha Japtej Singh, while TV personality Mandira Bedi is slated to  be the Face of the Marathon. Other celebrities, who are likely to participate, include Gurdas Maan, Vanya Mishra, Farhan Akhtar, Gippy Grewal and Satinder Satti. A pre-Marathon will be held in the month of November in tricity.