Tajik capital to host 6th int'l half marathon in April

The 6th International Half Marathon will take place here in Tajik capital on April 18, the Dushanbe mayor's press service said on Monday.

The event will be attended by the local contestants and also by the athletes from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Japan, Kenya, China, the US, France and other countries.

The route of the International Marathon of Dushanbe is one of the most straight-forward routes but made more difficult by the unpredictable prevailing conditions in the area.

The race begins at the Hofiz Sherozi Avenue where it heads about a kilometre down the road before turning around and heading towards the Circle of Karamov.

Athletes go around the circle and make their way past Yoqsu Shop before turning towards Rudaki Avenue.

The route heads past tojkmarmar where it turns right along Rudaki Avenue, heading all the way to the finish line that lies ahead down the road, in front of the monument to Ismail Samani.

Held every year in Tajikistan, the International Half Marathon of Dushanbe is something of a tradition in the country.

The event has been known to produce some of the greatest Olympic champions of Tajikistan, especially in the long-distance running category.

It was formally organized, for the first time, in 2009, when an older, more informal racing event was finally given recognition by the government, which decided to let the Management of Youth, Sport and Tourism hold the International Half Marathon of Dushanbe, every year. Endi