Salwan cross-country attracts 30,000 students

New Delhi, Nov 7: Around 30,000 students from across the country will vie for the gold medal at the Salwan Cross Country Run at the Army Equestrian Centre here Sunday.

The "marathon" in its 15th edition will see the participation of over 140 outstation schools from Vadodra, Pune, Jamshedpur and Darjeeling and from public schools Mayo College, Ajmer, and Welham School, Dehradun. Over 600 Schools from Delhi have confirmed their participation. The kids will run on the 3km-8km stretch.

Also, in a special race, around 700 visually impaired children will run a 3 km race with Olympians from the Mittal Champion Trust-- Bombayla Devi, Dinesh Kumar, Preeja Sreedharan, Sinimol Paulose, Harveen Srao and volunteers from St. Stephen's College, Miranda College, Vasant Valley School, Janaki Devi College.

Seventeen-year-old Babli from Andh Maha Vidhayalaya, Noida, is excited to be a part of the race for third time. "I had problems with my legs, but I think I can do it."

Kanika Sangwan, a student at the Army Public School here and the winner of the race last year, is confident of making it two in a row.

"I am super-pumped," says Kanika. "I am confident of winning this year as well. I believe in myself."

The Salwan marathon will be held in under-14, under-16, and under-18 categories. The winner in each category will get a prize of Rs.10,000, runner-up Rs.5,000 and the third-placed Rs.2,500.

--IANS