Hari Bahadur Rokaya now holds the record for the fastest completion of a marathon held at the highest altitude by winning the Everest Marathon. Rokaya had also won the marathon, held in Namche Bazar of Nepal, three times previously.
He won first place in the competition in 1997, 1999 and 2000. He also set a world record in 1999 by completing the competition in 3 hours 56 minutes and 10 seconds. In 2000, he broke his own record and ran the marathon in less than 3 hours, 50 minutes and 23 seconds.
Rokaya had twice competed in the Olympics in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. Apart from this, he had participated in various national and international competitions and won various titles.
Over the past few years, Rokaya has become known as a coach who produces good runners.
When any important race competition is organized in Nepal today, the organizers ask Hari Bahadur Rokaya to send players to participate. There are many examples of such players winning those competitions.
Rokaya, who was born in Jumla, has been working in Jumla for a long time to produce new players. The players he coached have won various national and international races.
Some of the players he taught are currently affiliated with the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and other teams. Even now, he is regularly training 25 players in Jumla. He now trains players to run uphill and downhill, and track flat running.
He is also active in raising funds for the players. He has been working hard to provide sports equipment, such as sports uniforms and shoes, to the players from the construction of the ground.
Similarly, a grain grinding mill has been opened in Jumla to provide nutritious food to the players.
READ ALSO:
