Race walking as a sport received a shot in the arm on Thursday when leading private health insurance company Max Bupa entered into a partnership with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to promote the sport in the country.
Race Walking is the longest event (both in distance covered and time taken) at the Olympics, with a legacy of 400 years. However, awareness about the sport is very limited in our country.
The event, which will witness over 200 national race walking champions, will begin with a 20 kilometre and 50 kilometre race walk on February 18 and will conclude with the 10km race walk on February 19.
Max Bupa also announced prize money of Rs 4,00,000 for the winners in 50 km, 20 km and 10 km race walk categories.
Some of the prominent names participating in the upcoming meet are Manish Singh Rawat, Khusbhir Kaur, Gurmeet Singh, among others who were also participants in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
--IANS
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