Akkal and Santoshi Win Titles at Second Nepalgunj 10 Music Night Run

Akkal Bahadur Pal of the Nepali Army and Santoshi Shrestha from Dhading secured the championship titles at the Second Nepalgunj 10 Music Night Run. Akkal claimed victory in the men’s category, while Santoshi won the women’s title. This event marked the first School to Olympic program held in Nepalgunj, organized jointly by the Nepal Olympian Association and Race Nepal on April 9 (26 Baisakh, Nepali calendar).

Akkal Bahadur Pal completed the 10 km men’s open category in 32 minutes and 18 seconds to finish first. Bhupendra Sunar secured second place with a time of 33 minutes and 4.77 seconds, followed by Arvind Yadav from Banke Narainapur, who took third place at 33 minutes and 8.09 seconds. In the women’s category, Santoshi completed the course in 30 minutes and 9 seconds. Deepashikha Shahi from Banke Kohalpur came second at 44 minutes and 58.13 seconds, while Geeta Sahu finished third at 52 minutes and 26.30 seconds.

Held with the aim of promoting social unity, a healthy society, and the night market through music and sports, the road race for veterans (over 45 years) in the 10 km category was won by 55-year-old Bharat Shrestha from Banke Khajura. He finished the distance in 51 minutes and 3.17 seconds. Pushkar Bishwakarma, 69, of Bardiya Gulariya came second with a time of 1 hour and 4 seconds, followed by 69-year-old Mangle Tamang of Nepalgunj, who placed third with a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 59 seconds.

In the school-level 5 km race, among the male students, Sameer Basnet, Basanta Majhi, and Naresh Kunwar finished first, second, and third respectively, while in the female student category, Swastika Shahi, Apsara Bam Thakuri, and Jandevi Mahatara took the top three positions. Winners were awarded cash prizes and medals by Lumbini Province Assembly member Meena Shrestha, Secretary of the Lumbini Province Sports Council Tirnadaj Gautam, former Secretary Bhim Oli, Chairman of the organizing committee Creative Gunj TS Thakuri, and Vice President of the Banke Journalists Association Karuna Shah, among others.