Jaipur: The 25-km distance from the city to the start-off point made little difference to the enthusiasm and vibrant energy of the thousands of runners who participated Sunday in the Mahindra World City Half Marathon – a maiden initiative of Jaipur Times – and made it a grand success.Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma flagged off the event at 6:30am from the sprawling Mahindra World City on Ajmer Road to loud cheers from participants, organisers and onlookers.“I want to congratulate the organisers for conducting the event at a place where business flourishes. It is the first such event at this business hub, and hopefully, it will be an annual event,” the CM said while addressing the gathering.The event brought together professional runners, fitness enthusiasts, corporates, families and personnel from the armed forces for a memorable morning of running and community bonding.More than three thousand entries made the event a remarkable one, with live music, DJ and dance adding a heady dose of spice to the electrifying atmosphere.The event featured a range of race categories designed for inclusivity. Timed competitive categories included the flagship 21.1 km half-marathon and 10 km and 5 km runs, each offering attractive cash prizes for winners.Pradeep Kumar reigned supreme in the 21.1 km half-marathon with a time of one hour, nine minutes and 38 seconds. Jujhar Bhati (1:09:54) finished runner-up, while Ajit Kumar (1:10:06) had to be satisfied with the third spot.Several leading athletes of the region competed for the top honours in the main race.The women’s half-marathon was won by Sanjana Singh with a timing of 1:18:32, pipping Nirmala (1:20:04) and Ekta (1:20:11) to the second and third positions, respectively.In the men’s 10 km, Rajesh Manmya completed the run in 33 minutes and 28 seconds, followed by Dharmraj Jat (33:29) and Gaurav (38:21).In the women’s 10 km race, Priya Pal, who clocked just over 41 minutes, was well ahead of her competitors – Shivani Sharma (42:13) and Deepika Sharma (44:11).Several families ran together with their kids in the ‘Fun & Cheer’ 3 km and 1 km categories. They were seen enjoying themselves together and clicking pictures and selfies to savour the moment.Also participating were the Kishangarh duo of Mahaveer Bagra and Ashish Sharma, who lauded the efforts of the organisers for putting up a wonderful event.“It was the first big race of my career. I completed the half-marathon by clocking my best time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t finish on the podium. I would like to participate next year too if this event becomes an annual affair,” said Mahaveer, a working professional.His friend Ashish echoed similar views, adding that kits and medals offered by organisers were of top quality.“Over the years, I have witnessed many marathon events, but I can say it was nicely organised. Everything was well taken care of and the CM coming to the event made it even more memorable for all of us,” he said.More than just a race, the marathon served as a powerful platform to champion fitness, promote an active lifestyle, encourage work-life balance and support employee wellness, all while fostering deeper community bonds through the spirit of sports.The results of the over-45 age group category will be declared later, informed the organisers.Results (Under 45 years age group)(Male) 21-km: 1. Pradeep Kumar (1:09:38), 2. Jujhar Bhati (1:09:54), 3. Ajit Kumar (1:10:06).10-km: 1. Rajesh Manmya (33:28), 2. Dharmraj Jat (33:29), 3. Gaurav (38:21)5-km: 1. Sandeep (16:01), 2. Uttam Sharma (16:11), 3. Kamlesh Rawat (17:18)(Female) 21-km: 1. Sanjana Singh (1:18:32), 2. Nirmala (1:20:04), 3. Ekta (1:20:11)10-km: 1. Priya Pal (41:01), 2. Shivani Sharma (42:13), 3. Deepika Sharma (44:11)5-km: 1. Seema (20:51), 2. Ritika Chauhan (24:31), 3. Kalpana Meena (25:42).
