Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani flagged off Rajkot's full marathon at 5.30 am on February 5. Organised by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, and city police, it was touted to be one of the biggest in the country in terms of total registration of 63,594 people and second biggest in Asia after Hong Kong's. "There was 100 per cent people attendance of all those who had registered. We also had 19 athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia running besides 360 elite runners from various armed forces and professionals," said Banchhanidhi Pani, Municipal Commissioner.
Over 16 international athletes had landed in the city a day prior. There were eight Kenyans and just as many Ethiopians among them. Last year's winners were, however, missing. Winners of the full marathon, both in men's and women's categories, got about Rs 250,000 each as a prize, while half-marathon winners received Rs 100,000.
