Hyderabad, November 3: Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar will flag off the Hyderabad Half Marathon here on Sunday. Close to 8,000 enthusiastic runners will gather at the Gachibowli Stadium at the break of dawn, underlining the running culture that is sweeping across the country. Sachin Tendulkar or Steve Smith? Fans Feel Legendary Indian Cricketer's Statue at Wankhede Stadium Resembles Australian Batsman, See Reactions

Organized by NEB Sports, the event boasts three categories -- the Half Marathon (21.1k), the Timed 10K, and the 5K Fun Run. "When it comes to running, a lot of people box themselves into different challenges. Some are worried about maintaining practice schedules, some about their diet, and some about their fitness. But one should never feel it is too late to start," Tendulkar said in a release.

"I hope the participants this year will move beyond the thoughts of age and not be restricted by a number. You can start your fitness journey any time, not just when you're young. For India to transform from a sport-loving nation to a sport-playing nation, we need participation from people across all age groups." Shreyas Iyer Wins ‘Best Fielder’ Medal in Team India’s Dressing Room With Sachin Tendulkar Making the Announcement After IND vs SL CWC 2023 Match, BCCI Shares Video

Keeping to the spirit of the theme 'Run Ageless, Run Fearless', 12 visually impaired runners will participate, supported by Guide Runners India, the NGO partner for the event.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)