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Gangtok/Aizawl, October 26 (IANS) Mizoram Governor General VK Singh (retd) on Sunday stressed on promoting strong relations between soldiers and civilians.
The Governor flagged off ‘Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0’ (a hill half marathon) at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on Sunday.
Addressing the function, General Singh (Retd) praised Soldierathon for fostering strong bonds between soldiers and civilians. Expressing his gratitude to the organisers, he extended best wishes to all the participants.
An official said the aim of the Soldierathon is to create a closer bond between the soldiers and the public, especially the youth, while promoting physical fitness. The objective, the official said, is to deepen public appreciation for the unwavering dedication of soldiers who protect the nation 24/7 regardless of terrain or weather, especially among the younger generation.
The event also strengthens the core values of unity, discipline and shared responsibility in nation building.
The second edition of ‘Sikkim Soldierathon: Great Himalayan Connect’ also aims to promote fitness and sports tourism in the beautiful state of Sikkim. Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0 consisted of three race categories: 5 km, 10 km and 21 km.
Mizoram Governor and his Sikkim counterpart Om Prakash Mathur jointly presented the awards to the winners, while senior citizens and children were also honored for their participation. Lively cultural presentations symbolizing national unity were given at the function, which were greatly appreciated by the audience.
Held under the theme ‘Great Himalayan Connect: Run the Ridge – Connect the Peaks – Unite the Spirit’, the event was attended by over 2,700 enthusiastic participants from over 130 cities across 27 states and witnessed cultural performances.
The marathon was organized by ‘Fitistan-A Fit India’ in collaboration with the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and Trishakti Corps.
Sikkim Governor Mathur described the event as an inspiring initiative towards youth power, military-social coordination and civic consciousness of the state. He congratulated the organizing committee, Army officers, participants and all cooperative organizations for the successful ‘Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0’.
The winners received attractive prizes, and each participant received an achievement medal and promotional items. The cash prizes were sponsored by Sikkim Raj Bhavan. Various cultural performances were also showcased in the event, making the atmosphere enthusiastic and exciting.
–IANS
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