Luwang, Premila retain Manipur Mega Marathon titles

Correspondent IMPHAL, February 16 Marathon runners Th Sanjit Luwang and S Premila Devi retained the 8th Mega Marathon Manipur titles in the men's and women's open category today. Both the athletes also won a cash prize of Rs 30,000 each. Three Naga runners namely Pache Khiamniungan, Puchong Khiam and B Puhi Konyak, all representing 164 battalion Territorial Army also bagged 5th, 6th and 15th positions in the day's marathon run. Th Shanjit, a resident of Yairipok Bishnunaha in Manipur's Thoubal district clocked 1 hr 01 min 47 sec to bag first position in the men's of the 21.5 kms long half marathon while S Premila of Yairipok Kekru Mayai Leikai also under Thoubal district reach the finishing line in 1 hr 18 min 44 sec to bag the first position in women's category. Another athlete O Sanaton of Oinam village in Bishnupur district (1hr 02 min 09 sec) and L Ranjan of Shunushiphai (1 hr 02 min 29 sec) finished the second and third positions of the men's category. In the women’s category L Chauba Devi of Chajing Karam in Imphal West district touched the finishing line in 1 hr 21 min 22 sec and bag the second position while Makakmayum Minarashi of yairipok tulihal under Thoubal district reached in 1 hr 23 min 37 sec to bag the third position in the same category of this year's event. The second position holders of the marathon also got a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. The other position holders runners (4th to 15th rank position holders) of both the men's and women's competition which was participated by around 2000 athletes, also went home richer with a cash prizes of Rs 2000 each. The prizes were distributed during the closing function of the marathon which was attended by additional chief engineer Command Area Development K Manoranjan and President of United People’s Front BM Yaima Shah as the chief guest and functional president.