Srinagar, June 30: In Ladakh, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Sarhad Foundation, Pune, and the civil administration, orchestrated a series of marathon events at Drass to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the Zoji La Battle and the Silver Jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
A statement of Sarhad issued here said that the marathons honoured the valour and sacrifice of the Indian armed forces during these pivotal military operations.
Flagged off by GOC of the Forever in Operations Division and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, the event began with a grand ceremony at the Zoji La War Memorial and Kargil War Memorial.
The participants ran from the icy heights of Zoji La to the historic battlegrounds of Drass, with five runs ranging from 4 km to 44 km open to all age groups.
The event saw widespread participation from national and local runners from J&K of Ladakh.
Sarhad Shauryathon celebrated resilience and fortitude, strengthening the bond between the Indian armed forces and the civilians they protect.
The runs challenged participants and left them with cherished memories, positioning Dras as a potential hub for adventure tourism.
Jaffar Ali won 10 km male and Stanzin Chodol, 10 km female, Tirtha Kumar won 25 km male and Tashi Ladol 25 km female, Nawang Tsering won 44 km male, and Diskit Dolma 44 km female.
Sanjay Nahar, Founder of Sarhad Pune, highlighted the inspiration behind Sarhad, crediting Gen VP Malik for encouraging its establishment post-Kargil War.
“Today, we celebrate 25 years of Kargil Vijay Diwas with this magnificent Sarhad Shauryathon, with global participants paying tribute to the martyrs,” Nahar said.
He emphasised the lasting impact of their efforts, promising continued support for the youth and residents of Kargil. Meanwhile, an athlete expressed that such platforms provide opportunities to showcase their talent and compete with people of international fame.
They expressed hope that Sarhad would continue its efforts in encouraging the youth and people of Kargil.