Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 1 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Police held the ‘Run for Unity’ Kashmir Marathon-2026, which aimed to unite schoolchildren, women, girls, differently-abled individuals, and sports lovers in a celebration of fitness and community spirit.
The marathon was officially started by Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Nitish Kumar (IPS), who noted the enthusiastic involvement of individuals from various backgrounds.
In an interview with reporters, Nitish Kumar remarked on the impressive turnout, especially given that the event took place on a weekday. He acknowledged the presence of participants who traveled from outside Jammu and Kashmir to join the marathon.
‘The ‘Run for Unity’ marathon organized today by the Jammu & Kashmir Police saw a turnout that exceeded our expectations, especially considering it is a working day. Many runners and sports enthusiasts have travelled from outside Jammu & Kashmir to participate,’ he stated.
The ADG emphasized the significance of diverse community participation.
‘We see people from all walks of life – young children, differently-abled individuals, women, and girls – taking part, which is truly heartening,’ he mentioned.
Nitish Kumar further highlighted how sports play a crucial role in engaging youth and steering them away from substance abuse.
‘Sports act as a powerful tool to steer our children and youth away from substance abuse. The enthusiastic participation of our youth clearly demonstrates that they are successfully defeating the drug menace in Kashmir,’ he explained.
This marathon was designed to encourage fitness, unity, and community involvement, while inspiring young people to take up sports and healthy lifestyles.
In a related event, Odisha celebrated fitness and tourism on World Tourism Day with thousands participating in a synchronized statewide Promo Run organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, to promote the forthcoming OMC Puri Coastal Marathon 2026.
According to a press release, this initiative took place simultaneously across 32 locations, involving more than 10,000 runners and creating an unprecedented statewide running movement under a unified message of a fitter and more active Odisha.
This marked the first time such a large-scale running event was conducted simultaneously in various locations, coinciding with the statewide celebration of World Tourism Day.
With the successful execution of the Promo Run, Odisha has set the stage for the OMC Puri Coastal Marathon 2026, as the State prepares to host a significant running event in Puri this December. (ANI)
