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Sikkim Farmer Wins Malaysia Ultra-Trail Race
Bir Bahadur Rai is a farmer from Sikkim who enjoys running.
He used to compete in road races but changed to trail running after his coach, Mongia Sherpa, encouraged him.
Trail running means racing across places such as forests, hills and rivers.
Rai raced 25 kilometres in Malaysia and finished in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
He won the MY25 category at the Malaysia Ultra-Trail.
Two other runners from his team competed in a longer 50-kilometre race and finished fourth and fifth.
Sherpa and supporters worked hard to raise money for the team’s trip.
Rai’s win made people in Sikkim proud.
The runners now hope to qualify for a major final in France next year.
Bir Bahadur Rai, a 39-year-old farmer from Sikkim, won the MY25 category at the Malaysia Ultra-Trail.
Rai completed the demanding 25-kilometre course in Taiping, Malaysia, in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
The course included forest reserves, Maxwell Hill and two river crossings.
Rai competed for Gorkha Trail Runners alongside Hemant Limbu and Som Bahadur Thami, who placed fifth and fourth respectively in the MY50 category.
Coach Mongia Sherpa raised about ₹3.5 lakh to send the team to Malaysia, fulfilling his dream of an international podium finish.
- Who
- Bir Bahadur Rai, a 39-year-old farmer from Sikkim, won the race for Gorkha Trail Runners, coached by Mongia Sherpa.
- What
- Rai won the MY25 category at the Malaysia Ultra-Trail, completing the 25-kilometre course in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
- Where
- Taiping, in Malaysia’s Perak state, on a course around Burmese Pool and Maxwell Hill.
- When
- The event was held from September 11 to 13; the articles do not specify the year.
- Why
- Rai said he took up running to lead a healthy life and inspire younger people; the team also wanted an international podium finish.
Key facts
- Winner
- Bir Bahadur Rai
- Race category
- MY25
- Course distance
- 25 kilometres
- Finish time
- 2 hours 25 minutes
- Location
- Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
- Team
- Gorkha Trail Runners
- Travel and participation cost
- About ₹3.5 lakh
- Future goal
- Qualification for the UTMB World Series Finals in France next year
Quotes
Prem Singh Tamang (Golay)
Chief minister of Sikkim
“Since 2022, I have always dreamt of a member of our team finishing on the podium of an international trail run. I worked hard to mobilise funds so that we could participate in this event.”
telegraphindia.com
“Bir Bahadur, your victory is not just a personal triumph; it is a proud moment for Sikkim and an inspiration to our young runners.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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