Kashmir Marathon: Kenyan runners win full marathon titles; specially-abled runner, woman carrying child steal spotlight

Specially-abled runner without arms wins hearts; Kenyan runners Omolo, Harpaa clinch full marathon titles

Srinagar: Kenyan runners Kanab Kalob Omolo and Lemensa Harpaa clinched the men’s and women’s full marathon titles, respectively, at the third edition of the Kashmir International Marathon held in Srinagar on Sunday.

However, Kulsum from Gujarat, who ran while carrying a child in her arms, emerged as one of the event’s most striking highlights.

Kulsum from Gujarat runs with a child in her arms during the Kashmir International Marathon in Srinagar on October 24, 2026.

Another participant who drew attention was Shivam Kumar from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a specially-abled runner without both arms.

Their participation added an inspiring dimension to the sporting spectacle, which brought together runners from Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of the country and abroad to celebrate endurance, fitness and sporting spirit, details accessed by the news agency Kashmir News Observer revealed.

In the men’s full marathon open category, Omolo secured first place, followed by Hamington Kinaro Cherub in second and Jacob Kabacholi in third.

In the women’s full marathon, Harpaa finished first, while Sheren Jimilo secured second place and Monika Vanjohi finished third.

In the men’s half-marathon, Leme Teshong Lemantso claimed first place, followed by Barko Bayasa Bakale in second and Sambol Eric Kanguso in third.

In the women’s half marathon, Ankita finished first, Saha Deslin Adana secured second place and Helen Motino Megonor finished third.

In the men’s full marathon local category, Kulbir Singh secured first place, followed by Waseem Ahmad Dar in second and Ragav Sharma in third.

In the women’s local full marathon category, Neha Dewi claimed the top spot, followed by Diksha in second and Salma Bedi in third.

In the men’s local half-marathon, Mohammad Yaseen Mir finished first, Rajit Sharma second and Parveen Kumar third.

In the women’s local half-marathon, Keriti Dewi secured first place, followed by Sakshi Thakur in second and Shamshad Bano in third.

The third edition of the Kashmir International Marathon featured a 42.195-kilometre full marathon and a 21-kilometre half marathon. A total of 1,807 runners registered online for the event, including 1,221 participants from Jammu and Kashmir, 513 from other parts of the country and 73 foreign athletes representing 12 countries.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the Kashmir Marathon was creating new opportunities for local sporting talent and expressed confidence that runners from Jammu and Kashmir would soon make their mark on national and international platforms.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony at Polo View Ground in Srinagar, Sinha said talent existed across Jammu and Kashmir but often lacked adequate opportunities to showcase itself.

He said a champion marathon runner could emerge from any district of the Union Territory, including Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam.

Congratulating the winners, the Lieutenant Governor also praised participants who completed the race without winning medals, saying their determination and perseverance deserved equal recognition.

“I would also like to say something to those who did not receive a medal. You are not merely participants; you are also winners. Those who keep running and cross the finish line after several hours deserve our salute,” he said.

Sinha said the Kashmir Marathon had helped bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by providing aspiring runners with a platform to showcase their abilities.

“I am confident that the next big name in marathon running will emerge from Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor urged the winners to guide and mentor aspiring runners, saying their achievements could inspire more young people to take up sports and pursue their ambitions.

He said several young participants had described the marathon as the beginning of a new journey and expressed hope that the event would continue to nurture sporting talent in the region.

“Flowers are about to bloom and they will bloom (Phool khilne wale hain, khilenge),” Sinha said, expressing optimism about the future of young talent.

Sinha said he was pleased that the Kashmir Marathon had secured a place in the calendar of international marathons and races, describing it as an encouraging development for Jammu and Kashmir.

He congratulated the Tourism Department, police, medical teams, volunteers and other stakeholders for their contribution to the successful conduct of the event. He also acknowledged the contribution of the person from Ladakh associated with the idea of the marathon, saying the event had evolved into a platform that brought people together through sports.

Armed personnel stand deployed near Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk as runners take part in the Kashmir International Marathon in Srinagar on October 25, 2026.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the Kashmir Marathon as an emerging flagship sporting event for Jammu and Kashmir, helping strengthen its global sports tourism profile while promoting fitness and healthy living.

He said the marathon provided an opportunity to showcase Kashmir’s natural beauty and cultural heritage while positioning the region as a destination for major sporting events.

The marathon routes covered several prominent locations in Srinagar, including Lal Chowk, Gupkar Road, Boulevard Road, the Jhelum riverfront, Dal Lake and the Mughal Gardens.

The event carried a total prize purse of Rs 3.17 crore, with Rs 25 lakh earmarked for the winner in the open category. A separate prize category for runners from Jammu and Kashmir was also introduced to encourage local talent and provide athletes from the region with greater opportunities to compete at national and international levels.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Secretary Tourism Avny Lavasa, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister had also inaugurated a three-day Marathon Expo at Polo View on October 22 as part of the activities accompanying the event.

Jammu and Kashmir Police SSP Tahir Ashraf Bhatti described the Kashmir Marathon 2026 as an important opportunity to interact with people from across the world and promote Kashmir on the global stage.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatti said the event brought together participants from India and other countries, providing an opportunity to build friendships, exchange experiences and share a positive message about Kashmir.

He expressed hope that the marathon would help strengthen the culture of sports and physical fitness in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that the region had hosted various sporting events.

Emphasising the importance of physical activity, Sinha said the marathon was not merely a sporting event but also an opportunity to promote fitness, healthier lifestyles and greater public participation in exercise.

Expressing concern over the increasing time people spend on mobile phones and screens, he stressed the need to make physical activity part of everyday life.

He said participating in a marathon was not necessary for everyone, but people should incorporate sports and exercise into their daily routines. He expressed hope that the event would motivate people across age groups, including those above 50, to become more physically active.

Addressing young people, Sinha said a marathon taught important lessons about determination, patience and overcoming challenges that could be applied to life.

He said runners often experience exhaustion and difficulties during a race but continue moving towards the finish line, urging young people to adopt the same approach when faced with setbacks.

“There are no shortcuts in a marathon, and there are no shortcuts in life either,” he said.

Sinha urged young people to recognise opportunities, take responsibility and turn challenges into opportunities to achieve their goals. He said the youth had an important role in shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s future and called upon them to contribute towards building a society marked by confidence, energy and a strong sporting culture.

The Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister expressed hope that the Kashmir Marathon would continue attracting runners from different parts of India and abroad, promoting sporting excellence, physical fitness and tourism in the Union Territory.

The third edition of the Kashmir International Marathon brought together 1,807 registered participants, including 73 foreign athletes representing 12 countries, reinforcing the event’s growing international profile.