Malam Jabba hosts Swat marathon
A player is skiing during the snow festival in Chitral. PHOTO EXPRESS
Malam Jabba Ski Resort in collaboration with a leading hotel group organized 2nd Swat Marathon in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district.
An overwhelming participation was seen by all age groups, children under 10 years till 16, women and men. Total number of participants was 127, including children and women. Last year more than 200 athletes participated in the event and bagged gifts and trophies.
This year more than 300 athletes from all over the world and Pakistan visited the tranquil sites of Malam Jabba Valley. People from all over the country attended this fun-filled event. Conservator of Forest K-P Ejaz Khan was invited as the chief guest for the award distribution ceremony.
“I am glad to see the efforts of the resort management to organize such kind of extreme sports and adventurous activities and spirit of the locals to make their participation from all over Pakistan. Let’s keep our Pakistan clean and green,” he told the ceremony participants.
Marathon is aimed to promote winter sports and tourism in the region of Swat. A variety of tracks are available including a track of five kilometer, 10 kilometer, 12.5 kilometer, and 42 kilometer.
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Exceptional spirit of the enthusiastic runners made it possible to finish the difficult uphill track and win the prize money. Winners for the longest 42 km track were Israr Khatak (1st), Fida Hussain (2nd) and Shahid Abbas (3rd).
In 12.5 km category, Sher Khan stood 1st, Wahid Mahmood came 2nd and Zohaib Shahid secured 3rd position. In 10 km category, Sohail Amir clinched the 1st position, followed by Amir Abass 2nd, and Mubraiz Bhukari 3rd. In category of five kilometer, Faizan Ali took the 1st position, Tayyab Gohar took 2nd and Muhammad Hamid stood 3rd.
The other attractions of the events were live performance by Hunza Folk Band, which started off by giving a tribute to Ali Sadpara followed by several instrumental tracks, mash ups in Urdu and Brushiski on which the audience danced.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2021.