Srinagar, Oct 25 (HS): Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, on Sunday said a separate organising committee may be formed next month for the Kashmir Marathon, and that the event will be upgraded further next year.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the flag-off of the third edition of the marathon in Srinagar, Wani said the Kashmir Marathon “is now an entity on its own”, which is why the chief minister has thought of a dedicated committee for it. “It is possible that it will be formed next month. The marathon will be promoted more through that committee,” he said.

He said the event has drawn more entries this year than last year, and that people are slowly paying more attention to it, including those who wish to run in it.

Wani said the government will work to improve the marathon’s level and participation, and that the chief minister has given

it personal attention. The marathon’s timing will also be reviewed next year, with the aim of scheduling it when no marathon is being held elsewhere, he said.

He said the government is also considering promoting the marathon at the travel marts it takes part in, in other states and abroad, as part of its travel promotion activities.

Asked what big step the government is taking for tourism, Wani said every step it takes is a step for tourism. “We get a boost for tourism, and people’s participation also increases here,” he said. He said people’s enthusiasm for running has increased considerably since the marathon began in Kashmir, and that he was happy to see very high local participation in the full marathon this year.

Omar Abdullah flagged off the third edition of the marathon earlier on Sunday. According to officials, more than 1,800 athletes from across the country and abroad are taking part. As per registration details reported earlier this week, 1,807 runners, including 73 foreigners, had registered, with 1,416 opting for the 21-km half marathon and 391 for the 42-km full marathon.

The prize money this year is Rs 3.17 crore, and a separate prize category has been set aside for runners from Jammu and Kashmir. At the inauguration of the Kashmir Marathon Expo-2026 on Thursday, Omar had said the prize for local runners, in both the half and full marathon, was introduced on the demand of local athletes, and that the prize money is many times higher than in other races.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat