The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy concluded the much-anticipated second edition of Mumbai Heritage Run on Sunday, 06 August 2023. Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command (FOC-in-C (West), the Chief Guest, flagged off the 10K Varuna run. The 5K Samudra run was flagged off by Rear Admiral AV Bhave, VSM, Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group (FODAG). The event organised by Western Naval Command was centered at Ballard Pier, Fort with M/s Fitpage as the principal Race Management Partner.
Filled with enthusiasm and anticipation, over 6,500 runners of all ages and backgrounds participated in this edition of the run. A testament to the enduring appeal of our cultural heritage and the passion for a healthy lifestyle, the event drew participants from all over the city.
The Heritage Run 2023 was successful largely due to the support of volunteers, partners with active contribution from Mumbai Police and BMC.
The 10K run had three categories; 60Y & above, 45-59Y and 16-44Y. The 5K run had three categories namely – 60Y & above, 18-59Y and 12-17Y. The winner of the 10K Male (16-44Y) Shrimant Kolhe and 10K Male (45-59Y) Shivand Shetty were felicitated by Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, FOC-in-C (West). Winners of 5K (12-17Y) Vikas Kumar Nirmal and 10K Male (Age>60Y) Keshav Mote were felicitated by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM, Director General Naval Project and winners of 5K Male (Age>60Y) Ashutosh Roy and 5K Male (18-59Y) Sahil Bibave were felicitated by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM, Controller of Personnel Services.
The winners for the 10K Female (45-59Y) Aneeta Bajaj and (16-44Y) Yamini Thakre were felicitated by Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, President NWWA (WR). Winners of 5K Female (12-17Y) Gayatri Shinde and 10K Female (Age>60Y) Lata Alimchandani by Mrs. Renu Rajaram and winners of 5K Female Category (Age>60Y) Sadhana Virkar and (18-59Y) Urmila Bane were awarded by Mrs. Laila Swaminathan. Vice Admiral P Murgesan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) felicitated the oldest males Capt Vinod Saigal (10K) and Surendra Joshi (5K) and oldest females Daksha Dilip Kanavia (10K) and Dharmi Swaminathan (5K) who participated in the event.
The FOC-in-C congratulated all concerned on the flawless conduct of the run. He also unveiled the logo of Indian Navy Half Marathon to be conducted in November 2023 and reiterated WNC’s commitment towards preserving the rich cultural heritage of Mumbai and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Taking participants on a scenic journey, the run through the historic South Mumbai District was a reward in itself for all the participants. From ancient monuments to modern architectural gems including the 288 year old Naval Dockyard, the route allowed the runners to explore and experience the rich heritage of south Mumbai and its legacy.
The Heritage Run exceeded expectations, not just in terms of the number of participants but also the incredible energy and enthusiasm displayed by everyone involved. The popularity of the event was immense which can be gauged by the fact that close to 6,000 additional personnel could not register due to capacity constraints.
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NJ/CY
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