Nawang Tsering and Jigmet Stobdan win Ladakh Marathon’s gruelling ultra-races

LG VK Saxena felicitates winners of 122-km Silk Route Ultra, 72-km Khardung La Challenge

LEH: Ladakh’s endurance athletes dominated the two flagship ultra races of the 13th Ladakh Marathon, with Nawang Tsering of Ladakh Police winning the gruelling 122-km Silk Route Ultra and Jigmet Stobdan of Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre (LSRC) emerging victorious in the 72-km Khardung La Challenge.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today felicitated the winners of the two high-altitude races, which brought together 477 ultra-runners to test their endurance across some of Ladakh’s most challenging terrain.

Nawang Tsering produced a remarkable performance in the 122-km Silk Route Ultra, completing the demanding course in 12 hours, 12 minutes and 18 seconds to claim the coveted first prize of ₹5 lakh. Suraj Meena of Rajasthan finished runner-up and received ₹3.5 lakh, while Rigzen Gyurmeth of 2 Ladakh Scouts secured third place and was awarded ₹2.25 lakh.

In the 72-km Khardung La Challenge, Jigmet Stobdan of LSRC clinched the top spot and took home ₹2.75 lakh. His LSRC teammate Shabir Hussain finished second with a prize of ₹2 lakh, while Singay Angchok of 2 Ladakh Scouts stood third and received ₹1.75 lakh.

The Khardung La Challenge is particularly demanding, taking runners towards Khardung La at an altitude of 17,618 feet, while the Silk Route Ultra tests participants over an extraordinary 122-km distance in Ladakh’s high-altitude environment.

Congratulating the winners and all participants, LG Saxena appreciated their determination, endurance and perseverance in taking on the extreme challenges posed by high-altitude racing.

He said the growing popularity of the two ultra races demonstrated Ladakh’s immense potential to emerge as a leading destination for high-altitude sports and adventure tourism.

“Ladakh Marathon stands as a shining model for responsible, sustainable tourism that empowers our communities while protecting our fragile ecology,” the LG said, stressing that the growth of adventure tourism must create sustainable livelihoods while safeguarding Ladakh’s mountains, lakes and fragile environment.

The 13th Ladakh Marathon, being held from September 10 to 13, has attracted 7,500 runners from 28 States and six Union Territories, with international participation expected from all six inhabited continents.

Since its inception in 2012, the Ladakh Marathon has grown into an internationally recognised endurance event and is recognised as the world’s highest AIMS-certified marathon.

This year’s edition carries a record ₹1 crore prize pool, while the event has also generated more than 70,000 bed nights and significant economic activity for local hotels, homestays, transporters, restaurants, guides, artisans and other businesses.

The LG also appreciated the organisers, volunteers, medical teams, security personnel, government departments and local communities for ensuring the successful conduct of the event, particularly the adherence to a zero-single-use-plastic policy.