Bhumi Raj Rai of Nepal Police Club (NPC) claimed the men’s marathon as Kanchi Maya Koju once again dominated the show winning the women’s half marathon under the fourth Nepalgunj Peace Marathon here on Saturday.

Rai clocked two hours 33 minutes and 20 seconds to win the men’s title and pocketed a cash purse of Rs 60,000. He left behind Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) duo of Khim Bahadur Khatri and Ganesh Thakuri. Khatri gave a tough fight to Rai but finished the 42.195km course in 2:35:32 hours, while Thakuri was a distant third with a timing of 2:47:28 hours.

The second and third place finishers got Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000. APF runner Koju, who last won the Kathmandu Marathon and has been sweeping almost every other event across the country with an ease, winning the race in 1:22:42 hours. Koju, however, had to face challenge from her clubmate Bindra Dhanke Shrestha who trailed by just three minutes and two seconds at the end of the run.

APF runners clean swept the podium after Krishneswari Shintakala finished third with a timing of 1:31:45 hours. The top three got Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

Naresh Budha of Jumla won the boys’ 5km race clocking 16:35.9 minutes leaving behind Madhav Chaudhary of Bardiya and Santosh Nath Yogi. Chaudhary timed 16:56.3 minutes and Yogi took 16:57.4 minutes to complete the race. Kalikot’s Mangala Budha won the girls’ event taking 19:09.7 minutes finishing ahead of two runners from Dang.

Anisha Chaudhary (20:39.4) and Sumitra Chaudhary (20:55.2) were the second and third place finishers. The top three in this event got Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshav Bista and Nepalgunj Mayor Dhawal Shumsher Rana among others handed over the prizes to the winners. The event is organised by Creative Hands to mark the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord between Maoists and Nepal Government.

On the sidelines of prize distribution ceremony, coaches and employees of the Mid Western Regional Sports Development Committee also honoured record holder runner Hari Bahadur Rokaya with a cash of Rs 20,000.