By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 13 Nov: Mussoorie will soon witness a spectacle that will fulfil the dream of renowned actor, the late Tom Alter. On 23 November, a 50-kilometre ultra marathon will be held in the valleys of Mussoorie, in which approximately 400 runners from India and abroad will participate. This event will not only add a new chapter to the field of sports but will also fulfil the unfulfilled wish of Tom Alter that he was unable to manifest in his lifetime.Tom Alter, who won hearts with his acting in Bollywood and theatre for years, considered Mussoorie his second home. He visited Mussoorie every year in October and organised a 21-kilometre half marathon to promote sports. His dream was to one day hold a 42-kilometre full marathon in Mussoorie, in which local athletes and runners from across the country and abroad would participate. However, this dream remained unfulfilled during his lifetime.Sandeep Sahni’s leadership will bring this dream to life.Now, Mussoorie’s sports enthusiasts have taken up the task of fulfilling this dream. The organising committee, formed under Sandeep Sahni’s leadership, held a press conference at the Municipal Corporation today to announce the grand event. The press conference was chaired by Municipal Corporation President Meera Saklani.Sandeep Sahni explained that, this year, not only will the 42.2-kilometre full marathon be held, but also runs of 50 kilometres, 21.1 kilometre, 10 kilometre, and 5-kilometre.He said, “This is not just a sporting event, but an effort to honour Tom Alter’s dreams.”Along with sports, tourism will also receive a new direction.He stated that this marathon will revitalise the sports culture in Mussoorie and boost tourism. Sahni suggested that the curtain raiser for Mussoorie’s famous Winter Line Carnival be held on the same day, so that the event remains in the news throughout the season.Municipal President Meera Saklani stated that the municipal administration will fully support the event. All roads along the marathon route will be repaired and necessary facilities will be provided so that no athlete or participant faces any inconvenience.On this occasion, Roopchand Guruji became emotional and said, “Tom Alter was like a member of our family. His dream was to have a full marathon in Mussoorie. Today, Sandeep Sahni and the sports lovers of Mussoorie are fulfilling that dream; it is a matter of pride for us.”This will be the first time an ultramarathon of such a long distance will be held in Mussoorie. Local athletes consider it a historic initiative. This event will establish Mussoorie on the national and international sports map in the coming years. Present on the occasion were Mussoorie Hotel Association President Sanjay Agarwal, Mussoorie BJP Mandal President Rajat Agarwal, Trade Board General Secretary Jagjit Kukreja, Mussoorie Sports Club General Secretary Saurabh Sonkar, Ajay Mark, Suresh Goyal, Jagpal Gusai, Tenzing, Manoranjan Tripathi, Vijay Jugran, Rajat Kapoor, Jagbir Bhandari, Councillor Gauri Thapliyal, Vishal Kharola, Sachin Guher, and many others.
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