Bagalkote women set world record in ‘sari marathon’

BAGALKOTE, Karnataka: On a pleasant morning of June 12, 2024, the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), in association with the All India Safai Karmachari Association and Real Sports Authority, organised the fourth edition of the Bagalkote monsoon 10-km marathon in Bagalkote, a small township in Karnataka. During the event, more than 1000 women clad in their traditional saris ran a distance of 1.5 km, making a world record.

On the morning of June 12, more than 3000 people, including local college students, local government officials, and local residents, especially women, gathered on a local ground in Bagalkote. The main attraction of the event, as mentioned before, was more than 1000 women, clad in traditional southern, Marathi, and Gujarati saris, running the marathon, which set a world record. The women clad in their traditional saris ran a distance of 1.5 km, after which the World Record official announced that they had made the world record and felicitated the AIILSG officials with a provisional certificate. After the marathon concluded, all the participating women were awarded certificates.

Apart from that, the event also comprises a 3-kilometre marathon and a 10-kilometre marathon. Winners of the following categories were awarded medals and trophies during an award ceremony held on the same evening. A cultural event comprising musical performances by local artists preceded the award ceremony.

M Venkatesan, Chairmen, National Commission for Safai Karmachari, and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment; Shashidar Kurera, IAS, CEO ZP Bagalkote; K M Janaki, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Bagalkote; Jagadish Hiremani, Chairman, Karnataka Safai Karmachani Parishad & Advisor AIILSG Bengaluru; Meena Chandavarkar, Former Vice Chancellor, Karnataka State Women’s University, Vijayapur; Vijay Kumar C, Nodal officer & Faculty, ANSSIRD & PR, Pawan Solanki, CEO, Genius Foundation & World Records India; Shivkumar T Surpurmath, Regional Director, Belagavi Center & President Real Sports Association, Bagalkote; Prakash Daddi, Rtd Assistant Executive Engineer, Bagalkote Town Development Authority & Member Real Sports Association, Bagalkote; and Dr Rajshekhar Hiremath, Vice President Real Sports Association were present in the event.