Defending champ Rashpal confident of retaining Crown

Defending champions Rashpal Singh (left), Karan Singh (centre) and Pankaj Dhaka, are the strong contenders to win the Men’s full marathon in the 7th Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai Virar Mayors Marathon, in association with Cigna TTK, which will be flagged off from two different locations, in Virar and Vasai on Sunday, December 10. - Photo By Sachin Murdeshwar GPN 09.12.17

Defending champions Rashpal Singh (left), Karan Singh (centre) and Pankaj Dhaka, are the strong contenders to win the Men’s full marathon in the 7th Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai Virar Mayors Marathon, in association with Cigna TTK, which will be flagged off from two different locations, in Virar and Vasai on Sunday, December 10. – Photo By Sachin Murdeshwar GPN 09.12.17

Mumbai, December 9, 2017 (GPN) : High on confidence, Rashpal Singh, of Army Sports Institute, feels he is in good shape and confident of defending the men’s full marathon title, which he won from start to finish last year. The Army athlete, who recently recorded his personal best of 2:20.23 at the National Marathon in Delhi, is certain of once again running away with the top honours in the 7th Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai Virar Mayors Marathon, in association with Cigna TTK, which will be flagged off from two different locations, in Virar and Vasai on Sunday, December 10.

The 32-year-old Rashpal will face a threat from last year’s runner-upPankaj Dhaka of JSW and Karan Singh of BEG, Kirkee, Pune. Dhaka, who is with the territorial army, but supported by JSW, has been training on his own and is determined to better upon his last year’s finish. Karan a two-time winner of the Mumbai Marathon (2014 and 2015), is making a return to long distance running after a lay-off of almost two years due to injury, and he belives that he has fully recovered and in good condition to challenge for the title.

The other fancied names in the full marathon are Jabalpur Armyman Sanaton Singh, who has a personal best of 2:20.11, ASI’s Bhram Prakash, who clocked 2:24.06 while winning the NSG Marathon in Delhi, Anu Sathyadas, winner of the Rourkee Marathon and G B Patle.

“I have been preparing well and am currently in peak form having won an even in Allahabad just 21 days back and that gives me more confidence. This time the competition will be much stiffer with Karan also running, but that would only help me to run faster which would certainly improve my timing,” said Rashpal.

The 27-year-old  Karan was pleased to return to competition after recovering from injury. “After being out of running for a long time it feels good to get back. I have been working hard during training and I am determined to get back to winning ways. This is my first big race after injury and it would be nice if I can come out a winner,” stated Karan, who clocked a time of2:21min in winning the 2015 Mumbai Marathon.

The men’s half marathon will be spearheaded by Kalidas Hirave, who has a season’s best timing of 1:03.27, clocked while winning the BSF Half Marathon in Delhi. Also in the fray will be Pradeep Singh, who clocked 1:04.34 at ADHM 2017, Man Singh who clocked 1:04.39 at the IDBI HM and National camper Govind Singh, who clocked 1:05.49 at ADHM 2017, besides Chandrakant Manwadhkar and Savhin Patil of the Railways.

The women’s half marathon will also have a strong field and should see stiff competition between Swati Gadhave and Monika Atahare, who clocked 1:15.21 and 11:15.36 at ADHM 2017. The other strong contenders are Monika Raut, Meenakshi Patil and Manisha Salunkhe.

The winner of the Full Marathon for men will stand to gain Rs 2.50 lakh, while the male and female winners of the Half Marathon will take home Rs 1.25 lakh each. There is an increase in the prize money for amateur runners as well in the different age groups.

Organised by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation and the Vasai Taluka Kala Kreeda Vikas Mandal and promoted by Aryanz Sports PR & Events, the Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon provides a prize fund in excess of Rs 40 lakhs, which is the richest in the country for Indian athletes and amateur runners. It is also the only race in the country to have a special category called the “Battle Run”, a team event exclusive for running groups over the half marathon distance and 5 kms.

Race Timings: The Full Marathon will be flagged off from New Viva College, Virar W at 6.00 am, while the Half Marathon will be flagged off from Vasai West at 6.30 am. The 11Km Run will be flagged off from New Viva College at 6.15 am, while the 5km Dash Battle Run will be flagged off at 6.45 am, also from New Viva College. All the junior age category events, along with the runs for senior citizens as well as the Dhamaal Dhaav will be flagged off from New Viva College.

LIST OF ATHLETES:

 

Elite – Indian Men 42km Full Marathon

Rashpal Singh (DoB 15.5.1985) – 2:20:20sec IDBI National Marathon 2017.

Manvendra Singh (DoB  1.7.1995) –        2:30sec Allahabad Marathon 2017.

Bharm Prakash (DoB 27.10.1989) – 2:24:06sec NSG Delhi Marathon 2017

Sher Singh (DoB 10.1.1992) – 2:29sec Allahabad Marathon 2017.

Patle GB (DoB 22.5.1984) – 2:28:09sec Bangalore Marathon, Dec 2015.

Anu Sathyadas Jaya (DoB 22.5.1992) – 2:24min Rurkee Marathon 2017.

Pankaj Dhaka (DoB 4.6.1989) – 2:25min VVMM 2016 (2nd winner).

Vinod Kumar (DoB 23.3.1986) – 1:09 Jaipur Half Marathon 2017; 2:29min Allahabad Marathon 2015.

Karan Singh (DoB 8.8.1990) – 2:21min SCMM 2016 – Winner.

Mohit Rathore (DoB 15.7.1991) – 1:7:50sec BSF Half Marathon 2017.

 

Elite – Indian Men – 21km     

Kalidas Hirave (DoB 24.9.1991) – 1:03:27sec 1st BSF Marathon 2017. (His timing is one of the best time record holder (National Camper).

Govind Singh (DoB 3.3.1989) – 1:05:49sec Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2017  (National Camper).

Shankar Man Thapa (DoB 18.8.1992) – World 10km – 31:07sec (Bangalore).

Chandrakant  Manwadhkar (DoB 18.11.1992) – 21km – PB 1:08min (Railways).

Sachin Bajirao Patil (DoB 10.7.1986       ) – 21km PB – 1:06min (Railways).

Jatinder Singh (DoB        5.4.1993) – 1:06sec Jaipur International Marathon 2015.

Pradeep Singh (DoB 6.6.1990) – 1:04:34 ADHM 2017.

Man Singh (DoB 20.6.1989) – 1:04:39sec IDBI HM, Delhi 2016; 1:05:58sec BSF HM 2017.

Abhimanyu Kumar (DoB 16.5.1989) – 1:07:15sec Bhopal Marathon 2016.

Ankit Malik (DoB 19.8.1993) – 1:07min In Delhi Half Marathon 2016.

 

Elite – Indian Women 21km

Swati Gadhave (DoB 1.6.1990) – 1:15:21sec Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2017; 32:50sec Federation Cup 2016 (Winner); 2016 TCS World 10km Bangalore Winner.

Monika Athare (DoB        26.3.1992) – 1:15:36 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon; 2:39:08sec National Marathon 2017 (National Champion), Bhopal Marathon Winner 2016 & 2017.

Monika Raut (DoB 28.6.1990) – 1:17:20 SCMM 2015 (21 Km); National Marathon 2015 – 2nd Winner (42km).

Meenakshi Patil (DoB 28.7.1992) – 1:21:06sec VVMM 2016.

Anita Choudhary (DoB 17.12.1980) – 1:22 Min – Haridwar Marathon 2016, 2nd Winner.

Manisha Salunkhe (DoB 1.1.1990) – 1:18:21sec ADHM 2016 (4th Winner).

Amandeep Kaur (DoB 25.8.1993) – 1:28:08sec Pink City Marathon 2017 (2nd Winner).

Monika Choudhary (DoB 28.6.1994) – 1:24:01sec BSF HM2017; World Championship Cross Country 2015.

Chinta Yadav (DoB 26.3.1993) – 9:49sec 3000mtr Open Nationals (Camper). Will be making a debut.


_______________ENDS__________________

 

About the Author

Sachin Murdeshwar
Sachin Murdeshwar is a Sr.Journalist and Columnist in several Mainline Newspapers and Portals.He is an ardent traveller and likes to explore destinations to the core.