184 Tribal Runners from Bastar to Compete in 15th NMDC Hyderabad Marathon

A contingent of 184 runners, predominantly from tribal communities across the Bastar region and adjoining areas of Chhattisgarh, will participate in the 15th NMDC Hyderabad Marathon on Sunday, marking their debut at a major large-scale city marathon.

The runners hail from remote areas, including Bailadila, Sukma, Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Jagdalpur. The group includes six women runners. Many of the participants initially trained barefoot on village roads and the rugged hills around Bailadila, facing limited access to standard running gear and formal sports facilities.

Public sector enterprise NMDC has supported the contingent by sponsoring their training and supplying running shoes, kits, and essential equipment, alongside arranging their transportation and accommodation in Hyderabad.

Batches of runners have undergone structured training since August 17, with youngsters practising on the hills surrounding Kirandul and Bacheli. Vivek, a trainer working with the group, stated that the participants come from remote places and possess varying levels of running experience.

According to NMDC, the Hyderabad Marathon serves as a platform to highlight and identify sporting talent developed outside India's mainstream sports infrastructure. NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee noted that seeing young athletes from remote and tribal areas of Bastar compete on a major national platform is deeply encouraging.

Rajesh Vetcha, Race Director of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, expressed hope that the event will provide the runners with confidence, experience, and an opportunity to discover their athletic potential.

The 184 runners will join a broader field of around 32,000 registered participants competing across various categories. While most of the Bastar runners will participate in the 10-km run, a smaller group with prior professional experience will compete in the 42.2-km full marathon and the 21.1-km half marathon. A 5-km run will also be held as part of the event.