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Lovemore Dube Sports Correspondent
A new athletics event has been added to the Bulawayo calendar with athletes set to battle it out for top honours in the Liquor Hub 10KM road race on November 29.
The race is sponsored by business mogul Raj Modi, who previously sponsored the Nkulumane Spar 10KM run since 1997.
Modi confirmed that his latest business venture would make its debut on the local sports scene by sponsoring the 10KM run.
“This will be an annual event that will be held to benefit the less privileged in our society. At the same time, the event will be promoting sporting talent in the country,” Modi said.
He said the race was open to clubs and schools, that are encouraged to send athletes to the event that will also embrace a fun run and walk over 5KM.
Modi said the race would start at Liquor Hub’s Fife Street premises and will see athletes run east along 4th Avenue past the Heath Streak Cricket Academy up to the Khumalo Hockey Stadium and back to town via Leopold Takawira Avenue and finish at Liquor Hub.
The winners of the senior men and women’s categories will pocket $500 each, runners-up $300 and third placed runner $200.
Junior men and women will each pocket $150 for winning the race, with the second runner getting $100 and third placed $50.
There is also a guaranteed $200 for the first wheelchair athlete in both the men and women’s categories. The runner-up will receive $150.
Because of the punishing summer temperatures, the event will start at 7AM.
The veterans’ has been left out of the inaugural race, but they have called for its inclusion saying they shouldn’t be forgotten for keeping road running alive.
“We want to participate and it would be a tall order for us to compete with the boys and girls in the Open category. This sport has lived to this day because we were there at some stage.
“We shouldn’t be forgotten heroes,” said Patrick Chipoyi while on his way to train with Samukeliso Moyo.
Online Reporter