All eyes will be on the past three champions as Hero Kantipur Half Marathon on Saturday prepares for a tough battle in both the men's and women's categories.

The annual competition that marks the anniversary of Kantipur Publications will see a tough three-way battle with former champions Gopi Chandra Parki of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club, Hari Kumar Rimal of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Anish Thapa Magar of Indian Army set to contest for the title. While Parki is the reigning champion, Rimal had won the 2015 edition.

Thapa Magar had claimed the race in his debut in 2014 setting a new course record. 

Kanchi Maya Koju is the most successful runner in the event having won three titles but she was a no show for the next two editions. Koju has returned to compete in her favourite competition and will be raring to go for her fourth title. But ahead of Koju will be Bishwo Rupa Budha, the 2015 champion who is fresh from winning the second CoAS half marathon title on February 11.

According to the race organising committee, the 21km half marathon will be contested by almost 2000 runners and the corporate/media 5km will see more than 1000 participants. The one-day event also includes wheelchair races in men's and women's 5km.

The race will have a new course after the shift of Publications' office from Tinkune. The race will begin from Publications' new office at the Central Business Park in Thapathali and will travel en route to Maitighar, Babarmahal, Bijuli Bazaar, New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, Jadibuti, Gatthaghar, Sano Thimi, Sallaghari, Katunje before heading back the same route.

For the first time in the 21km half marathon, the winners will ride a Hero Dash Scooter apart from the regular cash purse of Rs 50,000 in both the categories. The first and second runners-up will get Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively along with a Leagoo mobile.