Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): The first Tawang Marathon jointly organised by the Indian Army and the Arunachal Pradesh government was flagged off from High Altitude Stadium in Tawang on Sunday, promoting the spirit of unity, commitment to sports, and a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking to media on India’s first high-altitude marathon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Gajraj Corps Lieutenant General Manish Erry said that the Marathon looks forward to bringing northeast and Arunachal Pradesh to the Marathon map of India.
“This Marathon which we have organised jointly with the state government, had a motive, to bring northeast and Arunachal Pradesh on the Marathon map of India.
People from here earlier used to go far to participate in marathons. So we decided to organise this high-altitude marathon which is also the toughest one.
The oxygen per cent during the month of October is highest here, so it is the best time to organise this marathon,” the Lieutenant General said while speaking to media.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu flagged off the event.
On infrastructure development in Tawang along the Indo-China border, Lieutenant General Erry said that there has been a lot of improvement in the last 10 years.
“There has been a lot of improvement in infrastructure development in the last 10 years. There was a time when there were no roads beyond Tawang but today you will find roads till the last border. People benefit from development.
Mobile connectivity is also here and various companies are also coming here and setting their infrastructure,” he added.
Over 2000 participants from across the country and abroad have registered for one of India’s toughest routes in its maiden year, the officials said.
