Displaying fine grit and determination, 26-year-old Armyman Lalji Yadav from Hyderabad won the Kolkata Full Marathon (42.195 km), clocking 2 hours 25 minutes and 57 seconds here today.
Lalji was followed by B Lyndkhoi from Meghalaya and Anil Jimapower from Maharashtra with the timings of 2 h 25 m 49 s and 2 h 26 m respectively.
Though top long distance runners of the country are now busy in National Games in Kerala, the youngsters proved their mettle and the event was keenly contested, evident from the timings of the top three position holders.
Altogether 122 competed in the men's Marathon.
Lalji received the champion's purse of Rs 3.20 lakh while Lyndkhoi and Jimapower became richer by Rs 1.60 lakh and Rs 80,000 respectively.
In the 15km half marathon held for women, Sanjivani B Yadav bagged the pride of place with a timing of 56 m 31 s.
Shyamoli Singh of Bengal took the second spot clocking 56m 57s and Jyoti Jung Bahaudr Chauhan timed 57m to finish third.
They collected prize money of Rs 1.2 lakh, Rs 55,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.
Winning the title after a close fight, an ecstatic Lalji, who earlier won the Allahabad Open Marathon, said "I am very happy to bag the title here as the competition was very keen. My next aim is to get selected for the Olympics."
18-year-old Sanjivani, the woman champion who is a BA first year student in Nasik, who earlier represented the country in the Asian School Games Championship at Malaysia in 2013, said this win would help her prepare better for the World University Championship in South Korea in June.
The Kolkata Marathon which was flagged off by West Bengal Youth Services and Sports Minister Arup Biswas also included a 5-km 'Fun Run' which was joined by about 350 orphans under 10 years.
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