His winning time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, 03 seconds is also the course record for the Kantipur Half Marathon.
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Recently, if there is one runner who has consistently dominated the men's long-distance race in Nepali athletics, it is Rajan Rokaya. Saturday's race of the 'Kantipur Half Marathon' was no exception. Rajan, 27, of Tribhuvan Army Club, won the men's half marathon almost effortlessly. The time was 1 hour 4 minutes 03 seconds. This is also a course record for the Kantipur Half Marathon. This is the first time he has become a champion in the Kantipur Half Marathon. However, he has won more than a dozen other races. This time, he remained ahead from the start of the race to the end. It can be said that other competitors could not challenge him. 'I am happy for today's victory. I am now preparing for the London Marathon. Today's race was like a test for me. The time I have achieved today has made me enthusiastic and confident,' he said after the race. Earlier, Harikumar Rimal had a course record of 1 hour 6 minutes 41 seconds.
'My goal in my sports life is to break the South Asian record in the marathon held by Vaikuntha Manandhar. Coming close to the record of a runner like him is also a great achievement for me,' Rajan added.
Rajan's best performance in the marathon was possible in the last Magh. When he completed the Pradhansenapati Marathon in 2 hours 15 minutes 53 seconds. In 1987, Manandhar had completed it in 2 hours 15 minutes 03 seconds at the South Asian Games held in Kolkata.
Rajan added, 'This record set by Vaikuntha Manandhar Guru is also almost four decades old. Breaking this record is the dream of every athlete. I am also behind the same dream. I am working hard to break this record. He is also preparing for the Asian Games to be held in Japan. He will participate in the marathon and 10,000 meters. He also has a record performance in the men's 10,000 meters.
Analyzing the current race, Rajan said, "The weather and conditions of the day also determine the performance in the race. I think today's race was very favorable. There was some traffic disruption in the middle. If it hadn't been for that, my time would have been better."
He also said that the army's dominance in Nepali athletics in recent times is due to the excellent training and departmental encouragement there. He had previously finished second in 081 and fourth in 082 in the Kantipur Half Marathon.
As Rajan said, the top three in the men's half marathon were dominated by the Army. The Army players came second and third.
Arjun Budha came second in 1 hour 6 minutes 50 seconds. 'I am like a new player for Nepali athletics. I am very happy with today's performance, because this is the best performance so far in my short sports career and I have been able to win a medal for the first time. I will try to perform better in the coming days,' said 26-year-old Arjun.
This is the first time he has participated in the Kantipur Half Marathon. He managed to come second in his first attempt. There was a fierce competition in the race between the second and third place players. In the end, the time gap between these two runners was very small. Sushil Shahi, who came in third, had a performance time of 1 hour 7 minutes. This is his second participation in the Kantipur Half Marathon. He had previously finished third in 2018. “I am happy with today’s performance,” said Sushil, 31.
