Kargil International Marathon, 2017

Employing sports as a bridge to connect the people in the best of human spirit, Kargil International Marathon was organised on 16th July,2017, in the city which is renowned for the battle of 1999 which is still etched in our minds. The chief objective of the marathon was to project Kargil as a potential tourist destination (primarily focusing on sports) and to commemorate the Kargil war heroes. By giving the participants a choice between walking or running 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and even take up the Tiger Hill challenge of 120 km, it also attempted to give an insight to the normal citizens about the daily struggles and hardships faced by our soldiers in such a challenging terrain.

Major DP Singh has devoted himself completely to this national cause and is bent on making this initiative, a successful one. He celebrated his Death Anniversary on 15th July in Kargil by cutting a cake, a ritual usually practised on birthdays. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, clicked a button and launched a new era of motivation, encompassed in a website of Major DP Singh. On the morning of 16th July, Major DP Singh ran his maiden Kargil International Marathon and on successful completion of 21 km, received the medal as an appreciation of his efforts.

His respect for the Kargil war martyrs took him straight to the Drass War Memorial, also known as Vijyapath, where he paid tribute to those, who even after giving up their lives for their Motherland, are still alive in our hearts. Major DP Singh considers himself not lucky enough as he couldn’t be the one among them in the war. He saluted their incomparable sacrifice and laid his medal at the memorial as a homage to the war heroes.

The event turned out to be a massive success as an impressive number of people, irrespective of their gender or age, participated in the marathon with utmost zeal, thereby, contributing in achieving the major motive. Witnessing such an overwhelming response from the people, even the hills demanded. Once more Once more.