GTECH Marathon creates history with record participation
Around 8,000 runners join to support ‘Drug Free Kerala’ campaign
Trivandrum / February 9, 2025
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 09: With a record participation of around 8,000 runners, drawn from all sections of society, the GTECH Marathon held in the city today turned out to be the biggest run ever witnessed by the state, highlighting the theme ‘No To Drugs, Yes to Fitness.’
The event is organised by Group of Technology Companies (GTECH), the industry body of IT companies in Kerala, comprising 250 IT companies having a strength of around 125,000 IT professionals, which accounts for 80 per cent of the IT professionals in the state.
Now into its third edition, the GTECH Marathon is an annual event held to support the ‘Drug Free Kerala’ campaign launched by the Government of Kerala.
The event had 21 km, 10 km and 5 & 3 km races for three categories of runners--senior veterans (Above 60 years), veterans (45-59 years) and open group (up to 44 years).
The racers set off from Technopark Phase 3 campus, Kazhakoottam, ran past the key points of the state capital region, before being flagged in at the starting point itself. The runners included nationals from 6 countries and 14 different states of India. The oldest participant was 84 years old who completed the 3 km run.
Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage, Shri. V Abdurahiman, distributed the prizes to the winners. Indian sprint star Hima Das was the guest of honour.
“Events like GTECH Marathon are important components of the government’s efforts to further nourish the healthy sports culture of Kerala,” the Minister said lauding the initiative of the IT community of the state.
In the 21 km open category Cyril Jyothish Joy and Shinu Mol emerged as the winners in the male and female category respectively.
The veteran’s category saw Kamesh K H and Col. Anu Shaji becoming the winners (male and female). Anu Shaji was also declared as the overall winner in women’s 21km as she recorded a finishing time of 2 hrs and 12 mins.
Nalinakshan and Devi Das won the 21km marathon in senior veteran category in male and female categories respectively.
Finishing first in the 10-km ‘open’ category were Praveen Kumar and Vinitha Varghese, male and female categories respectively. Abu Poopalam and Zoya Ziya emerged the winners in the ‘veteran’ category.
Ravindra Patel finished the first in the ‘senior veteran’ races for men, while Zeena Firoz was the topper among the women.
“Eat Healthy, Stay Fit, Say No to Drugs and Exercise your Voting Rights,” said Dr. Rathan U Kelkar, IAS, Secretary, Electronics & IT, Govt. of Kerala and state Chief Electoral Officer, who also participated in the marathon.
“GTECH Marathon is organized every year for a great cause of drug free Kerala. We want to uphold the interest of the community and support the government’s drug free campaign. We will work closely with Police Department and other government departments to achieve this cause,” said Shri VK Mathews, Executive Chairman of IBS Software and Chairman of GTECH.
Shri Mathews announced that the next edition of GTECH Marathon will be held in Kochi on 8th February 2026 and expected the participation to cross 10,000.
“This is the 35th year of Technopark, and GTECH Marathon is a flagship event that shows the strength and harmony of Technopark community,” said Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd.), CEO, Technopark.
Film actor Shri Antony Varghese (Pepe); Shri Sreekumar V, Secretary, GTECH and Centre Head, Tata Elxsi, cine actor Catherine Navya James also attended the prize distribution ceremony.
ENDS
