Indian Army runners aim for podium finish in Tuffman Island Ultra Run in Andaman

In the upcoming fourth edition of the Tuffman Island Ultra and Half Marathon, Indian Army runners are poised to make their mark in the challenging 50km Ultra run. Last year's top-two finishers in the 30km category, Raj Kumar Serma and Lila Bahadur Gurung, are among the favorites for a podium finish. 

The scenic route along white sand beaches and tropical rainforests in Andaman and Nicobar provides a picturesque backdrop for the race. The route also has a historic flag point, as it bears the year 1943. The Indian flag was hoisted here for the first time. The race will commence from Netaji Stadium at Port Blair on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

Jaswinder Singh, another Indian Army runner who secured third place in the previous edition's 50km Ultra run, is also considered a strong contender for the 2024 race. Meanwhile, Manoj Pun, the 2023 50km runner-up, is shifting gears to the 30km run this year.

In the third edition of the Island run held in April last year, Indian Army runners dominated both the 30km and 50km events, securing all podium finishes in the men's section. This year, over 800 runners across various categories—Ultra, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km, and 3km—are participating in the Tuffman Island Run, powered by SeaShell Hotel Resort Spa.

"The Island run is gaining popularity, attracting runners from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Southern states," says Sanjay Mangla, the founder of Tuffman. 

"In 2023, Indian Army runner Suman Gurung set a new record in the 50km Ultra run category organised by Tuffman across all locations and terrains. This time also I am hoping  a record-breaking performance in the 50km Ultra run, because of better weather conditions compared to the high humidity experienced in Andaman during last year's April run." 

Tuffman, a sports endurance company, specialises in organising running and triathlon events. 

"In our running events held acorss the country, we are providing runners with diverse terrains, including forest, hill, road, sand, and beach," says Mangla.