Kantipur Publications on Monday announced the sixth Hero Kantipur Half Marathon for February 19.

The established athletics event takes place annually to mark the anniversary of the Publications. The prestigious event has gained a remarkable recognition ever since its inception in 2011. The soaring number of athletics each year shows the popularity of the race. The organisers are expecting over 3,000 athletes this year.

Last year 2,300 runners took part in the competition. The equal prize money for men’s and women’s champions in all three categories—half marathon, wheel chair race and corporate-media race—makes it a unique athletics meet.

“The growing popularity of Kantipur Half Marathon has established itself in the annual sports calender,” said Mahesh Swar, Assistant General Manager of Kantipur Publications during a press meet on Monday. Swar also said the Publications intend to make it an international event in future. “Due to our constraints, we have not been able to make it an international event but hope to make it one some day,” added Swar.

Nepal Athletics Association chief coach Sushil Narsingh Rana said the half marathon has firmly established itself in the national sports calender. “Top national players prepare themselves six months earlier for the event,” said Rana. Rana also said that last year’s winners Hari Kumar Rimal and Bishwo Rupa Budha will be unable to defend their title due to their national team obligations. The duo are representing Nepal in the South Asian Games slated to begin from February 6 in India.

Hero Moto Corps has given continuity to its title sponsorship, while Mahindra XUV 500, NMB Bank and Everest Bank are the main sponsors. Real Juice, Nepal Life Insurance, British College and Sumeru Hospital are the celebration partners. The event is Powered by Divya LED. Nepal Athletics Association will provide the technical assistance. The slogan for this year’s race is Run To Unite.

Unlike last year, athletes breaking the course record in half marathons will be awarded with a Hero Dash scooter. Last year, we had offered Rs 25,000 for athlete breaking the course record in both men’s and women’s half marathons. Anish Thapa Magar holds the men’s half marathon course record at 1hr 07min 47sec, while Budha holds the record in women’s event at 1:23:18. A total of Rs 308,000 has been set aside as prize money, excluding the scooter award.

Top six runners in half marathon—the 21.1km race—are assured of cash prizes. Winners of both men’s and women’s events will earn Rs 50,000 each. Runners-up will take home Rs 30,000 apiece, while third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed finishers will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively in both the categories. The race starts from the Kantipur Publications office in Tinkune en route to Koteshwor, Bhaktapur, Sallaghari, Surya Binayak, Jagati and back to the starting point at Tinkune.

Top three winners in the three-km wheel chair race in men’s and women’s categories will be rewarded with equal cash prizes. The champions will walk away with Rs 10,000 each, while the second and third-placed athletes will earn Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 in both the categories. Top three runners in the 5km Corporate-Media Run will earn Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.