Guwahati, Sept. 1: The 33rd Abhiruchi Sports Day, an annual event marking the birthday of the Assam's first Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Barua on September 3, will also have the first leg of a half- marathon.

"Nigel Eastwood, an acclaimed technology investor and international entrepreneur, will initiate the first leg of four half-marathons to raise funds to support local entrepreneurs in the region," organising chairman of the event Balendra Mohan Chakraborty told reporters here today.

Chakraborty said the marathon will start at 5.15am on Saturday from Chandmari and the participants will run to Sankaradeva Kalakshetra via Noonmati and VIP Road.

Apart from the marathon run, the annual event has a tradition of starting with a mass jogging event which has seen the participation of celebrities such as P.T. Usha, Shiny Wilson and many others. This year, Rio Olympics sprinter Dutee Chand will flag off the mass jogging.

"Besides Chand, we have also invited the state sports minister Naba Kumar Doley and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. We are expecting the participation of over 1,000 joggers."

The run will start from Chandmari flyover at 6.30am and end at R.G. Baruah Sports Complex, Ulubari.

This will be followed by a felicitation of players, sports organisers, coaches and sports associations. Archers Jayanta Talukdar, Manashjyoti Changmai, Mukesh Boro, Sathbir Kaur, Himani Boro, Sanjay Boro and Pramila Daimary will be felicitated. Other sportspersons include Shiva Thapa and Pwilao Basumatary for boxing, Ashmita Chaliha and Ningshi Block Hazarika for badminton.