Team News Riveting
Sambalpur, February 15
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in collaboration with Sambalpur District Administration organised the MCL Hirakud International Half Marathon.
The historic event took place at the iconic Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur, Odisha, with a total prize purse of Rs 55 Lakhs, drawing over 10,000 enthusiastic participants from across the globe, including professional marathon runners, fitness enthusiasts, young and old. Participants from around 20 states of the country and International Athletes from Kenya, Nigeria, Bhutan, Nepal and others participated in this historic marathon.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education; Suresh Pujari, Revenue Minister, Govt of Odisha; Rabi Narayan Naik, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rural development and drinking water; Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Odisha; MPs, MLAs flagged off the half marathon.
Dignitaries from Coal India limited, Uday Anant Kaole, CMD MCL; Functional Directors of MCL, IG- Northern Region Odisha, District Collector Sambalpur, Superintendent of Police, Sambalpur; Senior Officers from Various districts of Odisha and Padmashri Awardee Smt Krishna Patel and Shri Jitendra Haripal were present on this occasion.
Participants showcased sportsmanship, endurance and determination in the race featuring the 21km Half Marathon, 10km Run and 5km run, making It competitive and fun for both seasoned athletes and newcomers, transforming the scenic landscape of Hirakud into a vibrant celebration of health, fitness and athletic excellence.
Miss Sonika and Panchanan Bera stood as the Overall winners and bagged the top prize of Rs 5 lakhs of the Half Marathon in female and male categories respectively. International athletes Nganga George from Nigeria and Saron Molla Yigzaw delivered stellar performances, securing positions among the top five finishers in the respective categories. The dignitaries awarded the winners across the various categories.
Beyond celebrating Coal India’s and MCL’s contribution in ensuring energy security to the nation, the event also highlighted Hirakud as a world-class tourist hub.
