In a remarkable feat, 54-year-old Jitendra Agarwal from Jalna bagged a prestigious prize in the 405-km Ultra Marathon, organised by the Southern Command of the Indian Army in Mumbai. The marathon, held to commemorate the 54th Vijay Diwas, was flagged off by Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan on December 6 and concluded on December 16.

Agarwal, representing the Marathwada region, completed the gruelling 405-km marathon in 10 days, showcasing extraordinary endurance and determination. Every day, he ran 50 km. The event saw the participation of 15 contestants. The route spanned key cities, including Mumbai, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Kolhapur, and culminated in Pune.

Agarwal was honoured with an award and an appreciation certificate by Lieutenant Dhiraj Seth during the closing ceremony. Agarwal was guided by Shiv Yadav and Devyani Nikam.

The Ultra Marathon was organized to commemorate the 54th Vijay Diwas, a significant day in Indian history marking the nation’s decisive victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Vijay Diwas is observed annually on December 16 to honour the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.