SJOBA Half Marathon 2025 honours Indian Army’s courage on Kargil Vijay Diwas; specially-abled participants inspire with grit and spirit
Chandigarh, July 26:
Over 600 runners from across India came together in Chandigarh for the SJOBA Half Marathon 2025, commemorating the gallantry of Indian soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas. Organized by the St. John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA), the event stood out not just as a competitive athletic gathering, but as a heartfelt tribute to the armed forces and a symbol of peace, resilience, and unity.
SJOBA President Harpal Singh Malvai shared, “This marathon is our tribute to the heroes of Kargil and to the legacy of Fauja Singh, the legend of endurance running. It’s a call for peace, fitness, and a greener planet.”
The event featured 21 km, 10 km, 5 km (non-competitive), and 3 km walk categories, open to all age groups and genders. In a powerful moment, specially-abled athletes participated on wheelchairs, showcasing remarkable grit and breaking barriers.
Winners – Half Marathon (21 km):
- Men (16-30 yrs): Rohit (1:25:25), followed by Manjinder Singh and Dinesh Jangra
- Men (31-45 yrs): Sandeep Madaan (1:29:14), with Tarun Shekhar Pandey and Anmol Chandan
- Men (46-59 yrs): Sunil Sharma (1:48:58), ahead of Narinder Dange and Sandeep Malik
- Women (31-45 yrs): Pooja Pandey (2:05:43), followed by Nisha Garg and Jaswinder Kaur
- Women (46-59 yrs): Manaj Yadav (2:03:33)
Winners – 10 km Race:
- Men (16-30 yrs): Manpreet Singh (39:25), followed by Ashutosh Nayyar and Amit Kumar
- Men (31-45 yrs): Dinesh (41:55), with Rajesh Chandra Dey and Sashank Chanana
- Men (46-59 yrs): Gurjant Singh (54:55), followed by Narender Singh and Hari Bath
- Women (16-30 yrs): Tanannum Bhandari (1:10:34), followed by Simar Makkar and Ojaswini
- Women (31-45 yrs): Manisha (52:28), ahead of Himani Jamwal and Amrit Johal
- Women (46-59 yrs): Aprajita Lobana (1:14:02), followed by Manjeet Kaur and Suhinder Kaur
Danish Singh Mangat, Secretary, SJOBA, added, “The participation of specially-abled runners reflects the inclusive spirit of the event. The youngest and oldest participants were also awarded, reinforcing the idea that fitness and patriotism have no age.”
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The marathon ended with a lively prize distribution ceremony attended by Founder President Mac Sarin, Race Director Col. Harpreet Singh Mann, and senior members of SJOBA. Trophies, medals, goodie bags, and a healthy breakfast were distributed to all finishers.
The Title Sponsor for the event was Scott Edil, with Rahi Care as Co-Sponsor. Associate sponsors included Indian Oil, Fortis, Halt, Coca-Cola (Kandhari Beverages), HDFC Bank, Sahayak Associates, and Verka.
This inspiring event not only commemorated Kargil Vijay Diwas but also celebrated endurance, unity, and national pride—one stride at a time.
