A large crowd gathered at Netaji Stadium early Sunday morning as the Andaman and Nicobar Administration flagged off its annual Monsoon Road Race, a 5-kilometre run aimed at promoting mass fitness. Organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, the event began at 5:30 AM on July 13 and saw participation from over 200 runners, including students, professionals, and local residents.
The race, flagged off by Chief Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar, traced a loop from Netaji Stadium to Mazar Pahad and back. Despite light showers and humid conditions, runners of all ages took to the streets, underlining growing local enthusiasm for community-level fitness initiatives.
In the open women’s category, P. Alaggamal of Sports Authority of India (SAI) clinched first place, followed by Jasmin Ram, also of SAI, while Vinita Lakra from Government Senior Secondary School, Calicut, came in third. In the men’s open category, N. Eswaran from Bird Line emerged as the winner, followed by Pintu Ram of PM Shri GSSS, Prothrapur, and P. Sasi Kiran of SAI in second and third places respectively.
All top finishers were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals along with individual trophies during a brief prize distribution ceremony at the stadium.
Highlighting the inclusivity of the event, a group of children aged 6 to 7 also completed the race. They were awarded consolation prizes in recognition of their participation, drawing warm applause from the audience.
The event culminated with a vote of thanks delivered by Vikram Singh, Director (Sports), who acknowledged the efforts of all stakeholders in ensuring the race’s smooth execution.
The 5km run was part of a wider push by local authorities to embed physical fitness as a key component of lifestyle, especially among youth. With Sri Vijaya Puram witnessing increasing participation in public athletic events, the road race reinforced the administration’s commitment to health-oriented community programs.
