SKF Goa River Marathon to mark 75 years of Vasco Sports Club on 13th December

• 16th edition to feature five race categories and INR  8 lakh prize purse; over 7,500 runners expected from India and overseas

Goa Khabar: The 16th edition of the SKF Goa River Marathon (SKF-GRM)  organised by Vasco Sports Club, will be held on Sunday, 13th December, and will commemorate the club’s 75th anniversary.

Vasco Sports Club, which fields a team in the Goa Professional League, is the oldest football club in Goa. The race will start and finish at the Chicalim Panchayat Ground.

The SKF-GRM is approved by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), and its route has been measured and certified by AIMS officials. Timings will again be recognised by the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Full-marathon finishers can use them towards qualification for majors including London, Boston, New York and Chicago.

This year’s event will feature five race categories: Full Marathon (42 km), 20 Miler (32 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km and 5 km. They are open to elite athletes and recreational runners alike.

Speaking at the media conference in Panaji on Tuesday, Nitin Bandekar, President, Vasco Sports Club, said, “The response this year has been very encouraging, with 2,500 online registrations already recorded and the number is expected to cross 7,500 runners from across India and overseas for the event this year.

“Typically, every year, 65 per cent of the athletes are outstation athletes, while the balance is from Goa. Last year, there were participants from all the 28 states of India and at least 21 foreign countries. Our event is responsible for generating significant revenues for the tourism sector in Goa”

Mukund Vasudevan, President – Industrial Region, (India, Southeast Asia and Middle East), SKF Group said, “For more than 75 years, Vasco Sports Club has played an important role in promoting sport, fitness and community spirit in Goa. At SKF, we believe that sustainable progress is driven by strong communities, shared purpose and the opportunity for people to perform at their best. That is why we are proud to partner with this landmark event.”

Abhijeet Salkar, treasurer, Vasco Sports Club said that the SKF-GRM was arguably the biggest, single-day, sports event in Goa given the number of runners taking part. He also said that the 5km race for school children was gaining immense popularity with as many as 23 schools taking part last year.

Registrations for the 13th December race are open at www.skfgoarivermarathon.com.