Namsai, Feb 1: Building upon the resounding success of its inaugural edition, the second edition of the Golden Pagoda Marathon (GPM 2.0) 2026 was held on an even greater scale, participation, and international presence at Namsai on Sunday. Organised under the inspiring theme “India’s Most Scenic Run with Culture”,  the event reaffirmed Arunachal Pradesh’s growing prominence on India’s sports and tourism map.
The flagship 42-kilometre full marathon witnessed exceptional performances. In the men’s full marathon, George Nganga Kimotho of Kenya won the race with a time of (02:19:13). Amuma Terefe Seifu from Ethiopia finished second with (02:21:26), while Tsegaye Molla from Ethiopia secured third position in (02:21:23).
The women’s full marathon title was won by Ethiopia’s Genet Shikur Reshid, who completed the race in (02:55:38). The second and third positions were claimed by Senait Kefelegn Lesharge (02:57:13) and Firehiwot Shemsu (02:58:06), both from Ethiopia respectively.
In the women’s half-marathon (21 kms), Km Jyoti emerged victorious with a timing of (01:18:42). Tejaswini Lambkane finished second in (01:20:49), while Makakmayum Minarashi secured third place with (01:27:52).
The men’s half-marathon (21 kms) saw Rahul Yadav claim first position with a time of (01:08:42), followed by Dulu Sarkar in second place (01:14:38) and Saindurlin Lyngkhoi in third position (01:17:48).
In the men’s 10-km race, Ravi Choudhary won the event with a time of (00:30:24), followed by Shiva Kundu (00:30:30) and Amardeep (00:32:52) in second and third positions respectively.
In the women’s 10-km race, Anisha Bisht secured first place with (00:38:09), while Nikita Kami finished second in (00:41:47) and Serlibon Teronpi came third with (00:44:02).
In the men’s 5-km race, Humen Senapati won the title with a timing of (00:16:00). Agalumso Tawsik finished second in (00:16:59), followed by Dhormeswar Gonju in third place with (00:17:03).
The women’s 5-km race was won by Priya Chettri, who clocked (00:18:21), while Joti Mane secured second position with (00:19:11) and Yanu Mane finished third in (00:19:28).
The marathon was ceremonially flagged off from the iconic Golden Pagoda, Namsai, by MLA Zingnu Namchoom (47-Namsai), MLA Dambuk, Puinnyo Apum, Deputy Commissioner Lohit,K.N. Damo, Deputy Commissioner Namsai C.R. Khampa, and other distinguished dignitaries.
Eminent athletes and motivational icons like Sky London Book of Records fame,the remarkable one legged athlete -Uday Singh, the famed Indian Flag Barefoot Ultra Runner- Shishupal Podder including renowned ultra-runner Ankita Konwar and many others were present to motivate the participants.Er. Joram Lali took the charge as the official Event-cum-Race Director of GPM 2.0.
Following the highly successful inaugural edition, GPM 2.0 surpassed expectations, drawing over 2,000 participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, Sweden, and 28 states across India. Competitions were held across four categories - the 42-km full marathon, 21-km half-marathon, 10-km run, and 5-km fun run along with a special Namsai Run as the pre-event which further strengthened community participation and local enthusiasm.
Set amid the tranquil landscapes, spiritual landmarks, and vibrant cultural heritage of Namsai, the Golden Pagoda Marathon has evolved into a signature sporting event for Arunachal Pradesh. The overwhelming success of the second edition, surpassing the achievements of its inaugural run, reflects the region’s growing capacity to host large-scale national and international sporting events. By harmoniously blending endurance sport with tourism, culture, and community engagement, Namsai is steadily emerging as a premier destination for sports tourism, contributing significantly to Arunachal Pradesh’s vision of sustainable development, global visibility, and adventure-driven travel experiences.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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