3rd Int’l Mountain Cross-Country Race Competition from Nov 9

Kathmandu: The 3rd International Mountain Cross-Country Race Competition is to take place in Pokhara from November 9.

The Himalayan Tourism Forum in association with the Nepal Tourism Board, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Gandaki Province government and the Pokhara Metropolitan City is going to organize the sports event.

The event is aimed at establishing Pokhara as a sports city thereby further promoting tourism in the ‘Lake City’ besides further bolstering ties between Nepal and China, the organizers said in a press meet here on Monday. According to the organizers, altogether 90 athletes- 10 teams from China and 20 from Nepal- will compete in the event under the mixed group.

The theme of the Competition is- ‘Run for Common Prosperity’. Media coordinator of the event Pratik Raj Pahari shared that athletes should cover 50 km by trail running, cycling and rowing in a boat race. The athletes will be running up to the altitude of 2,258 metres above sea level in the mixed group category.

Likewise, under the challenge individual category, around 200 athletes -80 from China and 120 from Nepal- are participating and will cover 50 km and run up to 2,366 meters above sea level. Similarly, 500 runners would compete for a two-kilometre run under the happy run category.

Athletes from China are scheduled to arrive in Pokhara on a chartered flight, it was shared. The winner of the team event will take home a cash prize of Rs 458,400 while the first runner-up will receive Rs 343,800, the second runner-up Rs 229,200, and the third runner-up Rs 152,800.

The athlete securing fifth position will bag Rs 95,000 cash prize, said the organizers.