Kathmandu, Nepal, December 7, 2019: Nepalese Armed Police Force constable Kiran Singh Bogati could be the spark that lights long-distance running in the Himalayan Kingdom after he won the men’s marathon at the 13th South Asian Games on Saturday. Bogati, 35, won the 42.195km test-of-endurance in two hours 21.17 seconds to trigger massive celebrations at the Dasharath Stadium. The silver and bronze places were grabbed by two Indian runners, Rashpal Singh, 2:21.57, and Shre Singh, 2:22.07, respectively. In the women’s marathon, Sri Lanka’s Hiruni Wijeyratne won gold in 2:41.24 to extend the island nation’s domination in athletics. At the end of the athletics programme, Sri Lanka finished number one with 14 gold medals followed by India with 12 golds. Nepal won three golds, including Santoshi Shrestha’s historic golden performance in the women’s 10,000m – the first time a Nepalese woman had won the top prize at the South Asian Games. Her dream run and Bogati’s marathon effort taken together could have a long-lasting effect on the country. Rajeev Bikram Shah, President of Nepal Athletics Association, was hopeful that the two gold medals would be a massive fillip to middle and long-distance running in the country. “I hope these results will make people sit up and take notice, and realise the huge potential there is in middle and long-distance running in Nepal. Our runners are built for this. Like Kenya, we should specialise and focus more on the longer distances in athletics,” Shah said. “Here in Kathmandu, it is four to five thousand feet above sea level. Our runners are used to running at altitude and this is an advantage. I hope these victories will raise the profile of our sport and that the government and the corporate sector will now back athletics,” Shah added. Athletics plays second fiddle to football in Nepal according to Shah. Most tracks are built around a football pitch and when it comes to training, footballers are given priority. “We need our own dedicated facility. These Games has proved the untapped potential for athletics in Nepal. We have an unprecedented three gold medals in athletics and I’m exhilarated by these results,” Shah added. So exhilarated that, on the spur of the moment on Satuday, Shah promised that he would give the three gold medallists – the other was Gopi Chand Parki in the men’s 5,000m – a 100,000 Nepalese Rupees bonus each. Bogati dedicated his victory to his mother who passed away two years ago. “I’m so happy to win. I was thinking about her while I ran and it made me determined to win,’ he said. Sri Lanka’s Wijeyratne was left speechless, literally, after her dominating performance, finishing nearly nine minutes in front of second-placed Pushpa Bhandari of Nepal. India’s Jyoti Gawate won bronze. “How do you say ‘thank you for all your support in Sinhalese’,” asked Wijeyratne whose family moved to the United States 20 years ago when the country was gripped in war. “I’m very grateful for everyone who believed in me. I was determined to come here and win the gold,” said Wijeyratne, who turned 29 two days ago. “This is my birthday present.”
Bogati’s marathon victory the spark to light athletics fire in Nepal
