5k participate in BSL half marathon

Bokaro: More than 5,000 runners participated in the Bokaro Steel Plant half marathon on Sunday. The event that started at Mohan Kumar Mangalam Stadium drew enthusiastic crowds who gathered to both participate and support the runners.The marathon attracted participants from various states including Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. BSL executive director (personnel and administration department) R Banerjee said, "The half marathon has now become a pan-India event, with participants from different parts of the country, highlighting its unifying nature."This third edition of the marathon, which began to commemorate SAIL's 50th anniversary, has evolved into Bokaro's largest sporting event. "This is not just a race; it represents the flight of our fitness, unity, and dreams," said Manikant Dhan, chief of communication.Kenyan runner Paul Maina Ngari won the 21 km 40+ category while Chandan Kumar Yadav from Ayodhya secured the first place in the 21 km 15+ category. A notable highlight was 70-year-old Papina Devi's completion of the 10 km race.The event saw increased participation from first-time runners, particularly women. "It was more than fun," said Rajiya, a resident of Bari Cooperative area who ran in the 5 km category.Manvi Pradipta, a runner from Patna, said, "This is my second time, and I really loved the way the event was organized and the people participated here."The organizers implemented tight security measures, traffic control, and strategically placed water stations to ensure participants' safety.