Kanchi Maya Koju rubber stamped her domination in the Hero Kantipur Half Marathon winning her fourth title as Hari Kumar Rimal overcame pain to win the men’s event here on Saturday.

In a close contest in the men’s 21km marathon, Tribhuvan Army Club runner Rimal managed to get the better of the pain he suffered after stumbling early in the start to beat 2014 winner Anish Thapa Magar of India Army by two seconds. Rimal won the race in 1:06:41 hours. 

“I was confident that I was going to win the race this time and came here with a determination whoever the opponent could have been,” said Rimal after winning his title in an event organised to mark the 24th anniversary of Kantipur Publications. Another TAC runner Tirtha Kumar Pun finished third in 1:07:19 hours, while defending champion was condemned to a fourth place finishing after he timed 1:08:04.

Rimal also clocked a new half marathon national record which will now enter into the Nepal Athletics Association (NAA) record books. RImal broke the previous best timing 1:07:12 set by Khim Giri during the 2002 Brussels Half Marathon. “This is a new national record and the NAA will assess course to enter it,” said race director Sushil Narshing Rana and chief athletics coach.  

Koju, who had last won the race in 2014, returned for her favourite event and the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club long distance runner timed 1:19:22 hours to leave behind 2015 champion and clubmate Bishwor Rupa Budha, who ended up second clocking 1:19:26. “I had competed in an event in Darjeeling last and had sustained few injuries,” said Koju. 

“I was feeling pretty uncomfortable in the beginning because I knew the competition was going to be tough this time. But once I overtook Bishwo Rupa at Maitighar during the closing stages, I picked up from that point. This race is my favourite event and to win this four times is amazing,” added Koju.

TAC’s Sanu Karki finished third in 1:22:57, while defending champion Reshu Basnet of TAC finished fifth with a timing of 1:26:26. The winners in both the categories received a cash purse of Rs 50,000 along with a Hero Dash scooter each.

The second and third place finishers got Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, while the fourth, fifth and sixth place securing runners got Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively in both the categories. The second place winners also got a mobile set. 

The half marathon began from Kantipur Publications’ new office at the Central Business Park in Thapathali and travelled en route Maitighar, Babarmahal, Bijuli Bazaar, New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, Jadibuti, Gatthaghar, Sano Thimi, Sallaghari, Katunje before heading back the same route.

Bhupendra Batala of Classroom won the men’s corporate 5km race clocking 18:12.08 minutes and beat Uttam Shrestha (18:18) of Theatre Mall and Santosh Paudel (19:46.09) of Youth Journalism International. Santoshi Shrestha of Theatre Malla triumphed in the women’s event clocking 19:15.07 minutes to beat Nirmala Maharjan (24:52.08) of Oyster Spa and Fitness Centre and Laden Pradhan (25:22.16) of Civil Bank.

The winners in the corporate event got a return ticket to Hong Kong from Cathay Dragon, first runners-up were rewarded with return ticket to Pokhara and the third place finishers won mountain flight tickets. Ram Bahadur Gurung (12:09.77) won the men’s wheelchair 5km race and Lali Tamang (16:38.79) triumphed in the women’s section. Top three in both categories got Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.