History

Kantipur Publications has been organizing Kantipur Half Marathon to mark its anniversary for 8 years now. The first Kantipur Half Marathon was commenced at the year 7th Falgun, 2067 (19th February, 2011) on the 18th anniversary of Kantipur Publications and it has been a trend since then. Participation in Kantipur Half Marathon has been growing steadily since 2068 partly due to the fact that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does. Furthermore, Kantipur Half Marathon has been open to all Nepalis as well as foreign citizens above 18 years of age. The runners participating in Kantipur Half Marathon are both professionals and beginners and have shown their unique presence of unity with diverse age group, culture and gender.

Kantipur Half-Marathon 2075- 25th Anniversary

Hari Kumar Rimal and Kanchi Maya Koju won the eighth annual Kantipur-Runner Half Marathon organised by Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd in the Capital on Saturday. Rimal of Nepal Army won the marathon under the male category while Koju of Armed Police Force came first in the women’s category.

Rimal and Koji had won the seventh Kantipur Hero Half Marathon as well. Both the winners bagged a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and Runner Kite Plus Scooter. Santoshi Shrestha and Brinda Shrestha of Nepal Army came second and third respectively in the women’s category. Similarly, Hom Lal Shrestha and Gajendra Rai came second and third in the men’s category respectively. Ram Bahadur Tamang won the wheelchair race while Prem BK came second in the race. They received a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

The half marathon had started from Thapathali and passed through Maitighar, Bijulibazar, New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, Gatthaghar, Sano Thimi, Sallaghari and return via same route before finishing at the Kantipur Publication’s office at the Central Business Park.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2073 – 24th Anniversary

Kantipur Marathon 2073 was massive with 2500 runners taking part in the annual Kantipur Marathon which took place on 7th Falgun, 2074 ( 19th February, 2017). The equal prize money for both men and women champions in two categories- half marathon and wheelchair race and attractive gifts for both men and women champions in corporate category made it a unique athletics meet. The half marathon race started from Kantipur Publications office in Central Business Park, Thapathali en route to Koteshwor, Lokanthali, Thimi, Sallaghari, Surya Binayak, Jagati and back to starting point at Thapathali.

Hari Kumar Rimal and Kanchi Maya Koju won the seventh Kantipur-Hero Half Marathon followed by Anish Thapa Magar and Bishwa Rupa Budha in the second position. The winners of Hero Half Marathon were awarded with Rs 50,000 cash prize each and two hero motorcycles each. A total of 2300 people participated in the half marathon race last year.

Likewise, Ram Bahadur Tamang and Lali Tamang won the wheelchair race and were awarded with a cash prize of Rs 20,000 each followed by Prem BK and ami Jhakari Magar in the second position who took home a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each. About 50 differently abled participants participated in this race.

Similarly, Bhupendra Batala from and Santoshi Shrestha won the Corporate race followed by Uttam Shrestha and Nirmala Maharjan in the second position. More than 500 people participated in the Corporate Race.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2072 – 23rd Anniversary

The Kantipur Marathon 2072 was a milestone year with 2,300 runners taking part in the annual Kantipur Marathon which took place on 7th Falgun, 2072 (19th February, 2016). The equal prize money for both men’s and women’s champions in all three categories—half marathon, wheelchair race and corporate-media race—made it a unique athletics meet. The half marathons started from the Kantipur Publications office in Tinkune en route to Koteshwor, Bhaktapur, Sallaghari, Surya Binayak, Jagati and back to the starting point at Tinkune.

Gopi Chandra Parki of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Reshu Basnet of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) won the sixth Kantipur-Hero Half Marathon. Shankar Man Thapa of Indian Army finished second with the timings of 1:08:40 followed by Lal Bahadur Thapa of TAC in 1:09:10. In all, 1064 athletes took part in the men’s half marathon. Defending champion and Nepal’s lone athletics medalist at the 12th SA Games Hari Kumar Rimal surprisingly finished fourth with the timings of 1:09:50. The Army athlete had won bronze medal in 5,000m at the SA Games. Laxman Malla Thakuri (1:09:52) and Raj Kumar Bista ended up in fifth and sixth positions. TAC athlete Reshu timed 1:28:20 to win the women’s half marathon ahead of her teammates Sanu Maya Karki (1:30:06) and Sarita Basi (1:31:09). It was the second half marathon title for the 21-year-old after winning the 21.1km event of the Kathmandu Marathon last year.

A total of 98 athletes were in fray for the women’s half marathon title. Pushpa Bhandari (1:31:29), Saraswati Rai (1:33:18) and Sonu Jaya Rai (1:33:30) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth places. Ram Bahadur Tamang won the men’s 3km Wheelchair Race. Raju Katawal ended up second and Prem BK third. Lali Tamang, Rajani Rai and Yami Jhakri Magar claimed the top three positions in the women’s category. Hareram Nepal, Damodar Budha Magar and Sher Bahadur Tharu won the top three places in the men’s category of the 5km Corporate-Media Race. Santoshi Shrestha, Humi Budha Magar and Urmila Maharjan claimed the top three positions in the women’s category.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2071 – 22nd Anniversary

The fourth edition of the Hero Kantipur Half Marathon took place on 7th Falgun, 2071 (19th February, 2015) marking the 22nd anniversary of Kantipur Publications. More than two thousand participants had registered in three different categories for the event: half marathon, 3 km wheelchair race and 5km corporate-media run.

In all, 1,400 men and 250 women had registered their names to compete in the 21.1km half marathon this year. Additionally, 500 had registered for Corporate-Media race and 30 others for the wheelchair race. Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudel inaugurated the fifth edition of ‘Hero Kantipur Half Marathon’.

The marathon began near the Kantipur complex at Tinkune en route to Koteshwor, Sallaghari, Surya Binayak, Jagati and end back to the starting point.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2070 – 21st Anniversary

Anish Thapa Magar and Kanchhimaya Koju made a new record in the men's and women's category under the Kantipur Half-Marathon Championship taking place on 7th Falgun, 2070 (19th February, 2014).

Anish from Parbat district had made new record of 1:07:07 by completing the Marathon organized by Kantipur Publications on its 21st Anniversary.

Prior to this, Hari Kumar Rimal of Tribhuwan Army Club had the record of 1:08:35. Similarly, Kanchhi Maya of Armed Police Force has broken her own record of 1:25:46 with 1:24:47.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2069 – 20th Anniversary

Kantipur Hero Marathon 2069 was held on 7th Falgun 2069 (18th February 2013). Arjun Basnet and Kanchi Maya clinched the winning medals in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

Arjun completed the race , crossing the finish line before his fellow military colleagues. Kanchi Maya Kuju also crossed the finish line in front of all the other female participants, a feat which she had achieved on the first edition of the marathon and would repeat the following year.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2068 – 19th Anniversary

The second edition of the Kantipur Hero Marathon was conducted on 7th Falgun, 2068 (19th February, 2012). Hari Kumar Rimal took over the title of the Winner from the men’s category from Arjun Basnet.

Similarly, Brinda Shrestha took over the title of the winner from the women’s category from Kanchi Maya Kuju.

Kantipur Half Marathon 2067 – 18th Anniversary

The first Kantipur Half Marathon was inaugurated by former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal around 7:30 AM at Kantipur Publication, Tinkune premises.

A total of 443 runners participated in the marathon including 407 male participants and 46 female participants. The marathon route for the first ever Kantipur Half Marathon started from Kantipur Complex, Tinkune to New Baneshwor, Thapathali, Tripureshwor, Lazimpat, Narayangopal Chowk, Chabahil, Gaushala, Airport, Tinkune, Jadibuti and was completed back to Tikune. 16 male participants and 7 female participants participated in 3 km Wheelchair race.

More than 100 corporate organizations including Nepali banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, airlines companies, multinational companies and trading organizations with more than 1000 participants took part in 3 km walkathon. The walkathon emphasized the parliament committee on bringing peace, constitution and freedom of speech in nation.