Team Herald
PANJIM: The 14th edition of the SKF-Goa river marathon (SKF-GRM) will be held on December 8. The event will start and end at the Chicalim panchayat grounds.
The SKF-GRM which is considered to be the most popular marathon held in Goa will be conducted in the full marathon (42 kms), 20 miler (32 kms), half marathon (21 kms), 10 kms and 5 km categories.
Addressing the media persons, Nitin Bandekar, president, Vasco Sports Club, organisers of the marathon said that they were expecting close to 5,000 runners from across India and overseas participating in the event this year.
According to Bandekar, the theme for this year's SKF-GRM is ‘Steps for All’ and the event was a pioneer to spread the sport of long distance recreational running all over Goa. “Typically, every year, 65 per cent of the athletes are out-station athletes and the rest from Goa. Last year, there were participants from all the 28 States of India and at least 21 foreign countries. Our event is responsible for generating significant revenues for the tourism sector,” Bandekar said. According to Bandekar, the total prize money this year would be Rs 8 lakh.
Rakesh Unny, secretary, Vasco Sports Club said that the SKF-GRM was an AIMS (Association of International Marathons) has been marked and approved by AIMS officials. "This ensures that the full marathon finishing time at SKF-GRM can be used for qualification to participate in the various world majors races like the – London, Boston, New York and the Chicago marathons,” Unny said.