16.5k at Hyderabad 10K Run

This Sunday wasn’t a lazy weekend for Hyderabad as 16,500 citizens from all walks of life thronged at Peoples Plaza early morning to take part in the Jio Hyderabad 10 K Run. The participants included six national champions. The Elite 10k Run was the first to be flagged off at 6 am by Padma Shree awardee Milkha Singh while the Open Run and 7 K Run were flagged off post the conclusion of Elite Run. The crowd yelled, ‘Mikha…Milkha,’ as the Flying Sikh got down from his gypsy and mounted the stage.

Addressing the young and elder runners, the Olympian said, “I am delighted to come to Hyderabad and the number of participants further fascinate me. We all should be physically fit, for who is fit is the winner.”

Talking about the medal he failed to get at Rome Olympics, Milkha said, “I appeal to all you participants to work hard and get mother India the medal which I slipped in Rome Olympics.”

Charity partner of the run, United Way, successively organised 10K Dream Run with 2,200 runners for charity and generated Rs 64 lakh towards charity of 64 NGOs.

Besides individual runners, corporates participated in large numbers. While there were 500 participating from Microsoft alone, 300 corporates participated from Granules of India.

Kheta Ram in the men’s, Kavitha Raut in women’s, Cheruiyot Yegon Daniel in international men’s and Tarus Gladys Jepkechei in the international women’s category emerged as winners in 10 K Elite Run and won cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh each.

Prior to flag off, warm up sessions were conducted by Vijaya and team and by Shiamak Davar group. Post the Elite Run, there was a vocal performance by playback singer Anuj Guruwara. The artiste is popularly known for the hit song "Panchadara Bomma" from ‘Magadheera’.

The entertainment programme enroute Mazza 7 K Run included DJ; violin symphony; Phoenix, Pace Frog band, DPS and Sherwood school bands.

Major attraction of the event was Bagicha Singh, India's marathon walking superman. He left home in 1993 and has toured India on foot from Kashmir to Kanyakumari 20 times and travelled 5,90,000 kilometres carrying 92 kgs weight on his back. He never went back ever since he left home in Panipat. Bagicha is on his 20th trip from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. This 78-year-old is a crusader with a cause. He has been campaigning against tobacco, smoking and gutka. There was so much of recognition to him that when he reached the 10K Run, people surrounded him and started clicking pictures.