Ultra-marathon runner Apoorva sets national record

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Ultra runner Apoorva Chaudhary created a national record by completing 176.8 km in the women's 24-hour event at the NEB 24 Hour Stadium Run held here under the aegis of Athletics Federation of India.

Apoorva, the 28-year old runner from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, broke the previous national record of 175.4 km registered in the name of Meenal Kotak.

Competing in just her third ultra-marathon race, Apoorva also became only the fourth Indian woman to run more than 100 miles (160 km) in 24 hours after Meenal, Hema Saini (172.3 km) and Aparna Choudhary (169.2 km).

In the men's 24-hour run held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday, Pranaya Mohanty from Bengaluru completed 206.8, becoming the third Indian to have crossed the 200 km distance and the first to have achieved it in a stadium race held in India.

Earlier this month, Ullas Narayana completed 250.3 km and bagged a bronze, India's first international medal, at the 2018 International Association of Ultra Running (IAU) 24-Hour Asia & Oceania Championships held in Taipei.

Competing in the same event, Sunil Sharma also completed 202.6 km to help India secure a bronze medal in the team event