Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan confirmed on Friday that a national-level marathon will be held in Belagavi on October 25 as part of the Sashakta Karnataka initiative. The event is one of four major locations across the state selected for the race, alongside Hampi, Murudeshwar, and Chitradurga. Roshan reviewed the ongoing preparations during a meeting in Belagavi, noting that the initiative was announced in the state budget for the current year and urging athletes to participate in large numbers.
The Belagavi marathon is being organized by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, the National Service Scheme, and the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, in collaboration with Bengaluru-based JJ Active. The race will feature 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km half-marathon categories. The route begins at Suvarna Soudha, passes by Belagavi Fort (Kote Kere), and concludes back at Suvarna Soudha. All participants will receive a T-shirt and a medal, with light refreshments also provided.
Prizes are awarded separately for men and women in the 21 km half-marathon category. For athletes aged 18 to 45, the winners will receive cash prizes of ₹7,500 for first place, ₹5,000 for second, and ₹3,000 for third, along with trophies. For athletes over 45, the prizes are ₹5,000 for first, ₹3,500 for second, and ₹2,500 for third, plus trophies. In the 10 km category for those aged 18 to 45, the cash prizes are ₹5,000, ₹3,500, and ₹2,500 for the top three finishers, respectively, along with trophies. For the 10 km category for those over 45, the prizes are ₹3,000, ₹2,000, and ₹1,500, along with trophies.
Registration is open via the online portal https://raceiq.in/belagavirun. Entry fees are ₹350 for the 5 km race, ₹600 for the 10 km race, and ₹800 for the 21 km race. Students and senior citizens are eligible for a 25% discount on the entry fee. Pramod Deshpande, CEO of JJ Active, and B. Srinivas, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, were present at the review meeting.
