AGARTALA: With the festive spirit of Durga Puja beginning to build across Tripura, Agartala is set to witness a major sporting event on October 10, as the Egiye Cholo Sangha organises an All India Open Half Marathon.

The event is being planned as a pre-Puja sporting attraction, with runners from different parts of the country invited to participate. Organisers said the initiative is aimed at creating greater enthusiasm for sports and adding a competitive sporting flavour to the celebrations ahead of Durga Puja.

The marathon will feature separate races for men and women. Male participants will compete in the full 21.0975-kilometre half-marathon, while the women's category will feature a 10-kilometre race.

Organisers have also announced a cash-prize structure for the top performers in both categories. The winner will receive ?15,000, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive ?12,000 and ?10,000, respectively. Cash prizes will also be awarded to participants finishing from fourth to tenth place, ranging from ?8,000 to ?2,000.

The organisers expect participation from runners beyond Tripura, potentially giving the event an all-India character while putting Agartala's sporting culture in the spotlight.

With Durga Puja just around the corner, the marathon is e