Jammu, Feb 06: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress on Friday announced the launch of the Youth Half Marathon – Jammu and Kashmir Edition, an anti-drug awareness sporting event scheduled to be held in Jammu on February 15 from 7.00 am onwards.
The event, themed “Say No to Drugs”, will carry a total prize pool of ₹3 lakh and will be open to participants through free registration, with limited slots available.
The announcement was made during a press conference in Jammu, where Youth Congress leaders said the marathon is aimed at encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle while spreading awareness against substance abuse across the Union Territory.
According to the organisers, the marathon will feature three race categories — a 5-kilometre run for beginners and young runners, a 10-kilometre race for regular fitness enthusiasts, and a 21-kilometre half marathon for professional and endurance runners.
Participants will compete in Under-16, Open and 40-plus age groups, with an equal prize structure for boys and girls. Medals and certificates will be awarded to all finishers.
The Youth Congress also informed that several celebrity sportspersons and internationally recognised athletes are expected to participate in the run. Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib will also attend the event.
The marathon is being organised in Jammu under the directions of the Indian Youth Congress leadership.
Addressing mediapersons, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress State General Secretary Anirudh Sawhney said the programme has been designed as a public awareness campaign rather than only a sporting competition.
He said the message against drug abuse would be carried across the city through large-scale youth participation and added that the initiative seeks to promote both physical fitness and mental strength among young people.
Sawhney further said that the equal prize structure for boys and girls reflects the organisation’s focus on inclusion and gender equality in sports. He appealed to families and parents to encourage children to participate, stating that collective involvement is essential to counter the growing problem of drug abuse.
JKPYC Vice President Adv. Ranjodh Singh said the Youth Congress has decided to use sports and awareness activities as a positive platform to keep young people away from drugs and to guide them towards discipline, fitness and social responsibility.
He added that the free-entry format has been introduced to ensure that financial background does not become a barrier for participation. Singh also urged students, sports clubs, gym members and educational institutions to support the initiative and help turn the campaign into a community-driven movement against addiction.
Youth leaders including Dr Suhaib Manhas, Sameena Kousar, Anmol Kohli and Mehul Abrol were present at the press conference.
The Youth Congress has appealed to interested participants to complete their registrations at the earliest through the official registration system and join the campaign for a healthier and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.
