Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: The sixth edition of the Jammu Duathlon 70.3, organized by the Jammu Hills Sports Club Foundation (JHSCF), concluded with record participation and the introduction of two new youth categories – Solo 20 km Cycling and Solo 5 km Run for under-18 participants. The initiative aimed to inspire young athletes to embrace sports as a lifestyle, aligning with the Prime Minister’s Fit India vision.
Over 250 athletes from across India competed across five endurance formats, including the flagship Duathlon 70.3, featuring a 1.9 km run, 90 km cycling, and 21.1 km run. The event commenced at 4:00 am on Jammu’s scenic Ring Road, where complete traffic control, medical support, and hydration stations ensured athlete safety.
The event was flagged off by Ankush Tripathi (Tehsildar Bishnah), along with Hukam Verma (Principal, Birmingham International Public School), Vijay Sharma and Manminder Kaur. The felicitation ceremony was graced by Manu Hansa (SDM Jammu South) and Ansuya Jamwal (Additional District Magistrate, Jammu), who presented medals and trophies. The energy of the event was amplified by Ambica, ultrarunner and emcee, who kept participants and spectators motivated throughout.
In the Duathlon 70.3 (18-35 years) category, Rohnit Verma emerged victorious with a time of 6:18:36, followed by Rahul and Noor Hussain. In the 36-50 years group, Amrinder Singh Bajwa topped the chart at 6:00:45, followed by Deepak Singh (6:26:51) and Vijay Singh (6:44:08).
In the Olympic Distance (18-35 years), Sandeep Kumar won in 2:20:21, followed by Rahul Kumar (2:34:16) and Arun Kapoor (2:54:05). Among 36-50 years (Male), Aman Gupta (2:14:46), R.R. Sangra (2:16:31), and Sudhir Anand (2:28:49) took the podium, while in the Female division, Mitali Tiwary (2:46:20), Neha Aggarwal (2:51:47), and Barnali Mahela (2:55:58) claimed top spots.
In the Olympic Distance (51-60 years) category, Inder Singh Dadwal clinched the first position among men, followed by Sukhpal Singh in second place and Dr. (Prof.) Rajesh Ahal securing the third position, marking a strong podium finish. In the female division, Dr. Ritu Ahal dominated the category, finishing first with a chip time of 3 hours 5 minutes and 34 seconds, while Monica Maheshwari took the second spot with a time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 11 seconds.
In the 60 years and above male category, Kulwant Singh Bajwa claimed the top position, followed by Manoj Kairpal in second place and Sanjay Saini, who finished third.
In the Relay 70.3 (Open Category), the duo of Abhishek Sharma and Mudasir Ahmad emerged victorious with a chip time of 5 hours, 7 minutes, and 56 seconds, followed by Navjot and Chandeep Singh, who finished second in 5:27:34, while Ajay Gandotra and Santosh Kumar Sinha secured the third position with 5:37:59.
In the Relay Olympic Distance (Open Category), Kuldeep Kumar and Manav Radha claimed the first place with an impressive time of 2:12:55. The pair of Rakesh Kumar and Varinder Kumar finished second in 2:27:37, while Raghav Gandhi and Kamal Singh Jaggi took the third spot in 2:34:20.
The Sprint Distance (13 to under 18 years) category, in the first group, Harfateh Singh Bajwa bagged the top spot, followed by Shaurya Bhatia and Samar Dev Bans. In the second sprint group, Saiom secured first place, while Aryan Verma and Kirtan Saini finished second and third, respectively.
In the Junior Time Trial (20 km), among the 8 to 12 years (Male) participants, Anant Seth clinched the first position, followed by Panshul Raina and Arman. In the 13 to under 18 years (Male) category, Arindham Ravi took first place, with Anurag Kapoor and Manik Sharma finishing second and third, respectively. Among females in the same age group, Palakshi Raina dominated the event, while Arooba Shabir secured second place.
The Under-18 5K Run Race featured enthusiastic participation. In the first group of the male category, Harsh finished first, followed by Shivansh and Ranvir Arora. In the female group, Gouri claimed the top position, while Kairavi Bhat and Krisha Amit stood second and third.
In the second Under-18 5K Run group, Sunny Sharma emerged first, Himanshu Kumar finished second, and Yuvraj Singh placed third among boys. In the girls’ division, Laxmi Saini took first place, followed by Kartika in second and Samta in third.
Dr. (Prof.) Rajesh Ahal, who secured the 2nd runner-up position in the 51-60 age group, said,
“It feels incredible to achieve my personal best today with just a three-minute gap from the second position. Dr. Ritu Ahal also stood first in her category with a 34-minute lead – both of us making the podium. The event was excellently organized with great support, hydration points, and safety measures. The Jammu Hills Sports Club has truly taken this event to a new level.”
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