Binning, Elam to skip Vasai-Virar Marathon

Top long distance runners Binning Lyngkoi and Elam Singh have skipped the Rs 25 lakh prize money Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon to be run on December 21, to concentrate on next month's Mumbai Marathon which they have targetted to attain qualifying standard for the Rio Olympics.
The proximity of the Mumbai Marathon, scheduled on January 18, 2015, has robbed the Vasai-Virar Marathon - organised by the municipal corporation of the region - of seeing these two top men runners from taking part, the organisers said at a media conference today.
"Our original date was November 2 but it had to be put off due to the Maharashtra assembly elections after the code of conduct kicked in and we, as organisers of the marathon, could not publicise the event," said Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation's Mayor Narayan Mankar.

"Lyngkoi and Elam Singh are concentrating on qualifying for the Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, 2016) through the Mumbai Marathon. There is very little gap between Vasai-Virar and Mumbai events, so they have dropped out," said Bruno Goveas of Push Aryanz Sports Events, managers of the marathon.
"But we have a top quality field of runners with 2013 champion Sanvroo Yadav set to defend his title that he won clocking 2:21. He has the likes of Angad Kumar and Satya Prakash - with personals bests of 2:19, to contend with," he said.
"The women's half marathon will have the likes of (2010 Asian Games medalists) Sudha Singh and Kavita Raut competing along with Monica Raut, Rohini Raut and vijaymala Patil to provide competition as part of 15 elite runners," Goveas added.

The winner of the men's full marathon would be richer by Rs 2 lakh while the runner up would get Rs 1.1 lakh and the prize money would extend up to the 7th finisher (Rs 20,000).
The winner and runner-up of the half marathon for both men and women would receive Rs 1 lakh and 60,000 respectively while the seventh placer would get Rs 10,000.