Tribhuvan Army Club athletes asserted absolute supremacy at the 4th Lumbini International Peace Marathon, transforming the globally recognized event into a showcase of military athletic prowess. Held on Saturday at the sacred premises of the Lumbini Temple, the marathon not only highlighted elite long-distance running but also reinforced a global message of harmony through international participation.
The most stunning development of the day occurred in the women’s 21-kilometer half marathon. Purna Laxmi Neupane orchestrated a massive upset by crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 10 seconds. In doing so, she defeated heavy favorite and 13th South Asian Games (SAG) gold medalist Santoshi Shrestha, who had previously won the second and third editions of this very race. Shrestha was forced to settle for the runner-up position, trailing Neupane by over a minute, while Nisha Sarki claimed third place.
The men’s 42.195-kilometer full marathon was entirely monopolized by the Army. Binod Rokaya captured the championship title with a formidable time of 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 55 seconds, earning a grand prize of 350,000 Rupees. His teammates, Sushil Kumar Shahi and Narendra Singh Raut, secured second and third places respectively, completing a definitive podium sweep for the departmental team. The intense competition also saw international long-distance specialists falling behind the local talent, with China’s Wang Qi finishing fourth and Kenya’s Julius Wakome taking fifth.
Organized by the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) with backing from the Chinese Embassy, the event successfully integrated sports diplomacy. Foreign competitors from India, China, and Kenya contested across various categories, including the open 5km race where India's Prince Nishad secured a third-place finish. NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha and Marathon Coordinator Ashok Bajracharya distributed the cash awards to the top performers.
Looking forward, the successful execution of this multinational sporting event in Lumbini significantly bolsters Nepal's strategy to leverage its cultural heritage sites as premier destinations for international sports tourism.
