Gurgaon: City runs and paddles for fitness on a sporting Sunday

In its third edition, the marathon got rolling from DLF Cyber City and culminated at Golf Course Road

Updated on: Oct 29, 2017, 22:28:11 IST

Hindustan Times | By Leena Dhankhar, Gurgaon

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Residents turned out in numbers at Cyber City on a balmy Sunday morning to take part in Millennium City marathon, displaying their passion for fitness and good health. The city’s cycling enthusiasts, too, were not to be left behind as they hit top gear on Gurgaon-Faridabad Road in the quest of high stamina and health.

The 3rd edition of the HDFC Millennium City marathon got rolling from DLF Cyber City and culminated at Golf Course Road, covering several newly built underpasses. Hundreds of residents featured in distance running for 5km, 10km, 21km (half marathon) and 42km (full marathon).

Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar inaugurated the marathon and gave away the medals to the winners as well as participants.

“It was indeed very invigorating to see a large turnout for a fitness-related event. It is important to attain a work-life balance,” Khirwar said.

Vinder Singh won the men’s half marathon, while Arpita won the women’s event. In the 10-km marathon, Jammal and Amandeep Kaur won the men’s and women’s events. Jitendra Kumar Yadav and Ranjana were the winners of men’s and women’s full marathon.

Amandeep Kaur, winner of the women’s 10-km marathon, said, “I am amazed to see the awareness on the importance of fitness among Gurgaon people. I believe if we all come together and try to change the environment, we can make it happen.”

Read I Over 15,000 people run half marathon in Gurgaon

Triathlete Abhishek Mishra, who holds the titles of Ultraman and Ironman, said, “I am delighted that the third edition of Millennium City was a huge success. The event, indeed, drew an overwhelming response.”

“Such marathons play a key role in making people aware on the need to stay fit and healthy,” said Prakash Tewari, executive director, DLF Foundation.

A cycling event was also organised by a global business solutions company as an initiative aimed at health, fitness and wellness of its workforce. The event started at 7am from Qutab Plaza and spanned 15 km on Gurgaon-Faridabad Road.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More