Shrestha defends Half Marathon title

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 19: Nepal’s long-distance runner Santoshi Shrestha, popularly known as the Golden Girl, has claimed two titles within five days.  

After winning the women’s 3000m with a national record at the 2nd Pokhara Open Athletics Meet on 13 April, Shrestha successfully defended her crown at the 14th Kantipur Half Marathon in Kathmandu on Saturday.  

She clocked 1 hour 18 minutes 11 seconds to win the women’s 21.1 km race for the second year running. Shrestha, from Dhading, had finished last year’s event in 1 hour 23 minutes 28 seconds.  

Nisha Pal came second in 1 hour 18 minutes 26 seconds, while Purna Lakshmi Neupane placed third in 1 hour 23 minutes 13 seconds.  

An Olympian, Shrestha also holds the national half marathon record of 1 hour 15 minutes 7 seconds set at the Delhi Half Marathon on 12 October 2025. She owns national records in the women’s 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 25km, 30km road race and full marathon.  

In the men’s half marathon, Tribhuvan Army Club’s Rajan Rokaya won on his debut with a time of 1 hour 4 minutes 03 seconds. Army runners swept the podium as Arjun Budha (1:06:04) and Sushil Shahi (1:06:05) finished second and third respectively.  

Winners of the men’s and women’s half marathon received Rs 150,000 each. The runners-up earned Rs 75,000, while third-place finishers took home Rs 50,000.  

In the wheelchair race, Ramesh Khatri and Aishwarya Kumal won the men’s and women’s titles. Ajay Pandey claimed the men’s College Run (7 km), while Anusiya Tandukar won the girls’ category.  

Pukar Basnet and Kusum Tamang triumphed in the corporate and influencer run categories.  

Around 4,000 runners took part in this year’s event, according to organiser Kantipur Media Group. The competition was held with technical support from the Nepal Athletics Association.