Challa Subrahmanya Sharma raises awareness on Sunday's Save Soil movement at the Vijayawada Marathon. -- Photo: C. Narayana Rao
Vijayawada: The ninth edition of the Vijayawada Marathon saw enthusiastic participation from over 1,800 runners in the 5K, 10K, and 21K events, held on Sunday in the city. Participants included students, youth and people from Vijayawada, as well as from nearby cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
GST and customs commissioner S. Narasimha Reddy flagged off the runs at Gymkhana Grounds at 5 a.m. on Sunday. In his address, Narasimha Reddy encouraged participants to adopt healthier lifestyles through regular physical activities like walking and running, praising the event for inspiring physical fitness.
In the competitive races, Lakavath Vikram and Uppalapati Premaurthi won the 5K run in the men's and women's categories, finishing in 17:51 minutes and 24:03 minutes, respectively. Bhanu Prasad and Nisha Show claimed first place in the 10K run, with timings of 30:23 minutes and 51:51 minutes. In the 21K half marathon, Rahul Sheroan, Thatiparthi Brahma Reddy, and M. Linganna finished first, second, and third in 76:41 minutes, 77:36 minutes, and 82:49 minutes, respectively.
A standout participant, 56-year-old Challa Subramanya Sharma, also known as "Soil Sharma," completed the 21K race in 158 minutes, carrying a flag promoting the "Save Soil Movement." Sharma, an Isha Foundation volunteer and civil engineer, has run over 5,400 kilometers in various marathons across the country to raise awareness about soil degradation. He urged participants to support the movement through advocacy, policy changes, and sustainable agricultural practices.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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