The 20th edition of the Pokhara International Marathon concluded with a remarkable victory by Kenyan runner Julius Muriuki Wahome, who claimed the championship title in a highly competitive field. The prestigious race was held in Pokhara and organized by Nepal Ex-Players Forum, drawing thousands of participants from Nepal and abroad.
The full marathon, covering a distance of 42.195 kilometers, began from Pokhara Stadium. Wahome completed the race in an impressive 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 39 seconds to secure first place. Along with the title, he received a cash prize of NPR 400,000 and a medal.
Strong Competition from Nepali Athletes
Nepal’s Gajendra Rai delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 47 seconds. He was awarded NPR 200,000 along with a medal. Hari Kumar Rimal of Dhading secured third place, completing the race in 2 hours 27 minutes and 18 seconds and receiving NPR 100,000 and a medal.
In the national category, Gajendra Rai emerged as the top Nepali finisher, winning NPR 100,000. Hari Kumar Rimal placed second, earning NPR 50,000, while Karan Rawal finished third and received NPR 25,000.
Gandaki Category Encourages Regional Talent
Under the Gandaki regional category, Subash Gurung of Parbat claimed first place, followed by Niroj Bhatt of Gorkha in second and Dhanu Manandhar of Syangja in third. Gurung received NPR 50,000, while the second- and third-place winners were awarded NPR 30,000 and NPR 20,000, respectively.
Veteran Marathon Showcases Endurance Across Ages
The 45+ veteran marathon category saw Raibat Bahadur Dahal take first place, Sushil Kumar Shrestha finish second, and Chetnath Chalise secure third. Dahal earned NPR 25,000, while Shrestha and Chalise received NPR 15,000 and NPR 10,000, respectively, along with medals.
Half-Marathon Events Draw Wide Participation
In the 21-kilometer half-marathon, Sanjay Shrestha won the men’s race, followed by Nagendra Singh Raut and Gautam Shrestha. In the women’s category, Santoshi Shrestha secured first place, Nisha Sarki finished second, and Rajyalaxmi Rawal came third. Winners in both men’s and women’s divisions received NPR 75,000, with NPR 50,000 and NPR 30,000 awarded to the second- and third-place finishers.
The veteran men’s half-marathon (45+) was won by Dharma Maharjan, while Tej Bahadur Gurung and Kamal Gurung finished second and third, respectively. Maharjan received NPR 20,000, followed by NPR 15,000 and NPR 10,000 for the runners-up.
10 km Race Adds Excitement
In the 10-kilometer race, Nageshwar Ahir claimed first place in the men’s division, with Umesh Bista second and Mahendra Bahadur Bogati third. In the women’s race, Deepa Pariyar emerged victorious, followed by Sumitra Kumari Chaudhary and Narayani Bhandari. Winners in both categories received NPR 30,000, while second- and third-place finishers were awarded NPR 20,000 and NPR 10,000, respectively.
City Marathon Vision and Mass Participation
The event was inaugurated by Dhanraj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City. According to organizers, 3,601 athletes participated competitively, while 6,500 joined the “Run for Fun” segment, bringing the total number of participants to around 10,000.
Organizers stated that the marathon is envisioned not merely as a race but as an annual urban festival celebrating sports, tourism, and community engagement. Inspired by the concept of globally recognized city marathons, the Pokhara International Marathon aims to establish the city as a major destination for sports tourism while promoting health, unity, and international friendship.
With growing international participation and enthusiastic local involvement, the marathon continues to strengthen Pokhara’s reputation as one of South Asia’s emerging hubs for endurance sports and cultural celebration.
