Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister Omar Abdullah finished the 20th Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, setting a new personal best of 1 hour, 53 minutes, 35 seconds—running each kilometre in just 5 minutes 24 seconds. He posted the news on X, noting that the race was “a personal best” and shared a photo of his finish line.
Abdullah crossed the line at 6:53 am, a time that reflects a steady pace of 5:24 per kilometre. The 50‑kilometre race, which has run every year since 2005, drew more than 40,000 runners, including 10,000 women, a figure that Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena highlighted as proof of the Prime Minister’s Fit India campaign paying off.
The event opened with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya flagging off the course. Delhi’s defence heads—Army Commander‑in‑Chief General Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi—joined the starting line. Senior officers from all services were in the crowd, and the half‑marathon included a mix of elite athletes and enthusiastic volunteers.
The 20th edition also welcomed Olympic legend Carl Lewis as International Event Ambassador, alongside Puma Ambassadors Sarabjot Singh and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tejasvir Shankar. Their presence drew cheers and added an extra spark to the bustling streets of Delhi.
India’s top runners took the lead in the men’s field. Asian champion and national record holder Gulveer Singh, along with Abhishek Pal and Kiran Matre, spearheaded the home team. In the women’s division, defending champion Lili Das returned to fight for her title against tough competitors Sanjivani Jadhav and Ankita Dhyani.
Abdullah’s own performance mirrored the event’s overall success: a personal record, a supportive crowd, and a demonstration of the growing fitness culture in India. With 40,000 participants and 10,000 women finishing the half marathon, the 2025 edition once again underscored the impact of the Fit India initiative and the nation’s commitment to health and sport.
Source: aninews
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