Kashmir Marathon 2026: 1,807 sign up as race traffic delays JKSET

The third Kashmir Marathon was run through Srinagar on Sunday, 25 October 2026, with Kenyan runners winning the men's and women's full-marathon titles and local athletes competing in separate categories. The same morning, the University of Kashmir pushed the start of the JKSET eligibility test it conducts, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm so that candidates held up by the race-day traffic arrangements could reach their centres.

Road running has become one of the most visible fitness habits among young Indians, and city marathons are where that habit turns into a public event. Delhi's half marathon drew tens of thousands of runners earlier this month, and Srinagar's race, now in its third year, is trying to build a similar following in Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha told the prize ceremony that every runner who crossed the finish line deserved recognition for their effort and determination, and the territory's chief secretary, Atal Dulloo, said the event should grow into a global sporting fixture. The large prize purse and the presence of foreign runners show that the organisers want a race that attracts elite athletes as well as first-timers.

For a young runner, a race like this is more than one Sunday. Training for a full or half marathon usually means months of regular running, and many runners join clubs or training groups to prepare. Local categories, such as the women's half marathon in which Keriti Dewi placed first ahead of Sakshi Thakur and Shamshad Bano, give athletes from the region a podium of their own, separate from the international elite.

The JKSET episode shows the other side of big city events: road closures affect people who are not running. Candidates said the later start gave limited relief and that public transport was short along the closed stretch, while the traffic police said the arrangements were regulated and no candidate was stopped. Both accounts are on record, and the university's decision to delay the paper by two hours is the clearest sign that the clash was real enough to need a fix. For anyone planning a run or an exam on a race weekend, the practical lesson is to check closure maps and leave early.

Short-term: Srinagar now has a third year of results and participation numbers that organisers can use to plan the next edition. JKSET candidates sat a paper that started two hours late, and complaints about transport on race morning are likely to shape how future closures are announced.

Long-term: If the race keeps growing, it could become a regular stop for running clubs and travelling runners, adding a sporting event to the region's tourism calendar. Clashes with exams suggest that organisers and universities will need to coordinate dates earlier.

Who is affected: Young runners and running clubs in Jammu and Kashmir, visiting athletes, JKSET candidates, commuters in Srinagar, and the tourism department, which promotes the event.

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