Kundan, Husain emerge winners in ultra races at challenging Ladakh runs

Leh, Sep 12 (PTI) Local runners lived up to the expectations, dominating high-altitude races in Ladakh as Tsewang Kundan and Shabir Husain emerged champions in the Silk Route Ultra and Khardungla Challenge respectively.

Kundan clocked 13 hours, 50 minutes, 01 seconds to claim the top honours in the gruelling Silk Route Ultra, a 122-km race that runs through rugged Himalayan terrain.

He was followed by Phunchok Namgail (14:38:14) in second place, while Skarma Phurbu Tsering came third in 15:01:01.

This edition drew runners from every Indian state and Union Territory for the first time in history, cementing the event's status as one of the most significant running fixtures on the calendar.

Regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world, the Silk Route Ultra takes runners across a 122 km course that begins in the Nubra Valley, climbs over the formidable Khardung La Top at 17,618 ft, and concludes in the heart of the Leh Market. A total of 76 runners took on the course this year.

In the Khardungla Challenge, a 72-km run over the world’s highest motorable pass at more than 17,500 feet, Husain clinched victory in 06:58:40, narrowly edging past Tsering Norboo (07:01:29) and Stanzin Namgyal (07:05:28) in a closely-fought race.

Rajasthan's Sufiya Runner (19:12:36) and Namgyal Lhamo (8:31:47) were the winners in the women's categories in the Silk Route and Khardungla Challenge respectively.

Both events are part of the Ladakh Marathon, considered among the toughest endurance competitions in the world because of the extreme altitude and thin air.

The races attract elite long-distance runners but are especially dominated by local athletes who are accustomed to the harsh Himalayan conditions.

"This is not just a race but a test of survival and spirit at some of the toughest altitudes in the world. The performance of Ladakhi runners shows how deeply endurance is rooted in this region," said Chewang Motup Goba, chairperson of High Altitude Sports Foundation, and founder and organiser of the Ladakh Marathon. PTI AT AT PDS PDS