Srinagar, Jul 10: Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajad, on Friday said the inclusion of the Kashmir Marathon in the calendar of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) marks a major milestone that will enhance the event’s global profile and attract more elite athletes from across the world.
Speaking to reporters here, the Director, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the marathon has steadily grown into an internationally recognised sporting event and that joining the AIMS calendar will further strengthen its credibility among the global running community.
“This year, the Kashmir Marathon joins the AIMS calendar, giving it international recognition. We have also introduced separate national-category prizes to encourage greater participation from athletes across India,” he said.
Sajad said online registrations for the Kashmir Marathon 2026 will open from July 20, nearly two and a half months ahead of the event, allowing runners from India and abroad sufficient time to register and prepare.
He said the introduction of a dedicated prize category for Indian participants addresses a long-standing demand of national-level athletes, while they will continue to compete alongside international runners in the overall race.
Expressing confidence over this year’s edition, Director Sajad said the twin initiatives of AIMS recognition and separate national-category prizes are expected to significantly increase participation from both international and domestic athletes while further establishing Kashmir Marathon as a flagship sporting event promoting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)
