NMDC Hyderabad Marathon to feature 184 tribal runners
A group of 184 tribal runners from Chhattisgarh is set to participate in the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon with support from the public sector enterprise. The initiative aims to provide remote tribal youth with exposure to mainstream sporting events and identify potential athletic talent.
Why it matters
This initiative highlights corporate social responsibility efforts to bridge the gap between remote tribal communities and national sporting platforms.
As many as 184 runners, predominantly belonging to tribal communities, from Bastar and nearby areas in Chhattisgarh will be participating in the 15th NMDC Hyderabad Marathon on Sunday.
They are from remote areas, including Bailadila, Sukma, Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur and Jagdalpur, and the marathon will be their first experience of competing in a large-scale city marathon. The contingent includes six women runners, NMDC said.
Many of them trained barefoot on village roads and the rugged hills around Bailadila, with limited access to proper running gear and organised sporting facilities.
On August 30, they will find themselves in a different setting — running alongside thousands of participants at one of India’s major city marathons, thanks to support of the public sector enterprise. It sponsored their training and provided running shoes, running kits and other essential equipment besides making arrangements for their accommodation and transportation.
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