Date:14/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091406872000.htm

Sport - Athletics

Is Bangalore marathon a no show?

Principal Correspondent

BANGALORE: To run or not to run? That could well be the dilemma facing the runners on Sunday, as the Athletic Federation of India is yet to `permit' the Bangalore International marathon organisers to stage the event this Sunday.

"It all boils down to Rs.10 lakhs that the AFI has demanded for the marathon to be run. But I would rather have a couple of international stars and provide them with all five-star facilities and hope for a World-class timing with that amount. The demand is ridiculous," said M. Darshan of Cross Over, the event managers, who successfully organised the first Bangalore international marathon (then sponsored by Lipton) on a large scale last May.

"We did not get a sponsor this year and May being a hot month, we decided to postpone the event to September. With the Times Of India stepping in at the last moment, we are at least hopeful of going through the event this time as further postponement will only add to the uncertainty," felt Darshan.

Dr. Lalit Bhanot, the AFI Secretary-General, however, has granted national ranking status to the Mawana Sugars Indian Open marathon to be run in New Delhi on the same day with prize money of Rs.10 lakhs. "With national status given to the Delhi event, it is but natural that all leading runners would participate there as the prize money here is only Rs.5 lakh," said Darshan.

The 23,000 odd who ran in the event last year, however, are left in a quandary. Maybe it will be a "refreshing fun run" with an International tag!