PPA observes 62nd Port Foundation Day; 364 competitors join Paradip Marathon

By Pravakara Sahoo

Paradip, Jan 3:  The 18th Paradip Marathon 2023 was conducted by the Gopabandhu  Kreeda Sansad of Paradip Port Authority (PPA) on Tuesday on the occasion of 62nd Port Foundation Day with Chief Guest PPA Chairman Shri P.L. Haranadh flagging it off at Hanuman Temple Square. Shri Mukesh Mohan, ED, IOCL, Shri Y.K.Singh, DIG, Local Coast Guard Unit were Guests of Honour.

 The marathon covered a route of 14 km and concluded at the Gopabandhu Stadium amid great encouragement by the inhabitants of the port town and members of other organisations. A total of 364 competitors, 314 male and 50 female, participated in the run.

Shri Ashok Dandasena of Odisha police won the first prize in the men’s category by completing the distance in 43’ (minute) 06.7”( second), Shri Arjun Tudu from Jamshedpur got the second prize with 43 ‘ 3.8” and shri Lakhan Soren of Jamshedpur got the third prize in this category by clocking 43’30.8”.    

 In the women category, Ms. Samsad Ara Begum from Khurda won the first prize by completing the distance in 53’ 40.6” , Ms. Puja Behera from Balasore the second prize by completing the distance in 54’16” and Ms. Sandhya  Murmu from Mayurbhanj  won the third prize in 55’ 28.5”

PPA Chairman Shri Haranadh, Shri H.D Sharma, SGM. IFFCO, Guests of honour, PPA Heads of the Departments and members of Paradip Ladies club gave away cash prizes at the valedictory function held at the Gopabandhu Stadium.

Addressing the gathering Shri P.L.Haranadh, PPA Chairman highlighted how the Team PPA  has clocked all time record monthly Cargo Handling among all Major Ports in the country by achieving 12.6 MMT mark in December’2022.

The port is now vying for coveted 130 MMT mark in the current fiscal in spite of shortage in Iron Ore cago. He also congratulated the employees, family members, importers, exporters, unions, PPP

operators and other stake holder for this massive achievement. As marathon involves running a greater distance untiringly, so organising the event like Paradip marathon on the occasion of 62nd  Port Foundation Day has its own significance. The port should continue its marathon to achieve better accomplishment in coming future.   Shri Haranadh  lauded the participants who have come from different parts of the country to join the marathon.  

Officials and technical members of the Paradip Port Sports Council  led by Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, Dr. D.P. Sethi, Working President, Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad & Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary and Shri Rabi Das, Advisor, Sports, GKS with the assistance of the officials from the Odisha Olympic Association conducted the marathon smoothly.