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New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) The historic border town of Firozpur, known as the ‘Land of Martyrs’, witnessed an inspiring scene of unity and patriotism when the Golden Arrow Division of the Indian Army successfully organized the ‘Firozpur Border Marathon – 2025’ on Sunday.
Organized with the twin objectives of honoring India’s martyrs and tackling the growing menace of drug abuse, the event witnessed massive participation and appreciation from across the country.
The marathon was flagged off by Major General RS Manral, General Officer Commanding, Golden Arrow Division, in the presence of distinguished guests including Olympian Pargat Singh (Padma Shri and Arjun Awardee), Ranveer Singh Awala, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Virendra Mohan Singhal, Sameer Mittal, Anirudh Gupta, Jagmohan Singh, Colonel Krishna Badhwar (Retd) ultra marathon runner; and Major DP Singh (Retd), India’s famous blade runner.
Senior civil administration officials and representatives of Punjab Police also graced the occasion and extended their full support to this noble cause.
Thousands of runners from various walks of life – including elite athletes, serving soldiers, young influencers and patriotic citizens – came together to reaffirm the collective pledge for a drug-free and united India.
Set against the symbolic backdrop of the glorious heritage of Firozpur, the marathon route passed through places of deep national importance.
The participants crossed the historic Ferozepur Fort and concluded their race at the National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala – the sacred resting place of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev and Shaheed Rajguru.
The atmosphere was filled with emotion and reverence when the participants paid floral tributes to the immortal heroes.
Reiterating the spirit of sacrifice and resilience, Major General RS Manral appreciated the participants for their fervent support, saying that the event not only promoted physical fitness and awareness, but also reaffirmed the region’s enduring sense of patriotism.
He emphasized that the fight against drug abuse is a national mission, which requires collective resolve and cooperation between communities, civil authorities and security forces.
The event comprised three categories – half marathon, 10 km and 5 km races – in which over 4,000 participants from different states participated.
It successfully combined sportsmanship, remembrance and social responsibility while promoting border tourism and the cultural heritage of Ferozepur.
The Golden Arrow Division reaffirmed its commitment to continue leading such meaningful public outreach initiatives, uniting citizens in national causes beyond the call of duty.
–IANS
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