Nepal’s trail-runner Mira Rai was one among nine individuals and organisations to be honoured with the Asian Society Game Change Award.

Rai will be honoured with the award in New York City on October 9. Trail Runner Rai, who hails from remote Bhojpur district, rose to fame winning multiple trail races around the globe. In 2015 she claimed the 80km-long Mont-Blanc title in France with record timing. She was also named the National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year in 2016.

According to the Asian Society, Rai was chosen for the award “for defying steep odds, shattering records, and inspiring and helping millions of girls”. She will be awarded along with PepsiCo chairman and chief executive Indra Nooyi. Rai was unavailable to make comments. The recipients of the honoured were chosen in recognition of individuals and institutions who have broken barriers, defined courage, worked miracles, and in turn inspired their fellow citizens of the world, said the Asian Society in its release.

The other recipients include Thai rescuers who saved a dozen teenage football players in a flooded cave, the Japanese first responders who risked their lives following the tsunami and nuclear disaster at Fukushima, the founder of the Syrian White Helmets, whose volunteers are among the few “first responders” remaining in that country; a global champion for “green cities”—Wang Shi of China, Dr Munjed Al Muderis—a surgeon who brought hopes for amputees among others.