Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
To promote health awareness among women, Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries & Agriculture (Massia)’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell organised a women-only marathon on Sunday. Held under the guidance of Massia president Arjun Gaikwad, the marathon began at 6 am from the Massia office and ran up to More Chowk.
Women above 18 years participated in 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km categories. A total of 620 women from various backgrounds entrepreneurs, employees, workers, students, doctors, women police personnel, teachers, homemakers, and even those above 60 years of age took part enthusiastically. Warm-up exercises were conducted by Ishita Kulkarni and Utkarsha Borkar of Prapti Yog Sadhana Group. The marathon was inaugurated by Janardan Kale of Canpack India Pvt. Ltd. and Everest mountaineer Manisha Waghmare, in the presence of Massia vice-presidents Manish Agrawal and Rahul Mogle, and Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell convener Sarika Kirdak with co-convener Payal Naikwad. In the 3 km category, Rohini Kharat, Bindu Rathod, and Varsha Rahul Jadhav secured first, second, and third places respectively. Pratibha Kharat, Sheetal Gangurde, and Sunita Sandu Banswal won the top three spots in the 5 km race, while Vithabai Kachhave, Sakshi Sonal More, and Archana Jagatap finished first, second, and third in the 10 km category. All winners and participants were felicitated with medals, with dignitaries lauding the women’s health awareness.