ITBP holds 10-km Marathon, promotes fitness, team cohesion
Leh, Nov 29: Showcasing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s drive to strengthen physical readiness in one of the world’s toughest terrains, DIG Shailesh Kumar Joshi of Sector Headquarters Ladakh on Saturday flagged off a 10-kilometre marathon organised by the 5th Battalion in Choglamsar. The event, held under the force’s OJAS quarterly adventure activities programme, highlighted ITBP’s emphasis on endurance, cohesion, and operational fitness for personnel stationed in the high-altitude region.
The marathon began at Sabu Chowk, with participants racing across the Bypass Road through Solar Colony and CIBS Choglamsar before entering the 5th Battalion campus. Commandant Manish Bhatia supervised the event, which drew nearly 150 ITBP personnel from units across Leh, demonstrating the force’s commitment to collective training and field readiness.
Despite braving sub-zero pre-dawn temperatures and the harsh Himalayan terrain, jawans completed the course with notable grit and enthusiasm. Officials said the marathon was structured to foster a healthy competitive spirit while enhancing inter-unit coordination—vital for troops operating along critical border stretches.
A brief closing ceremony at the battalion parade ground saw DIG Joshi, joined by DIG Ranjan Malik of the North-West Frontier, felicitating the participants. Both officers applauded the high fitness standards on display and underscored the importance of adventure-based training in maintaining peak operational capability.
Prizes were awarded to leading runners, and officers affirmed that similar initiatives would continue to be organised to reinforce teamwork, discipline, and physical resilience. The event concluded with an acknowledgement of the organising staff, whose meticulous planning ensured the marathon’s smooth conduct and reflected the battalion’s enduring spirit of unity and professionalism.
