In a vibrant display of community spirit and commitment to wellness, the inaugural VSSUT Marathon-2026 was successfully held in Burla on Sunday. Defying the chilly and foggy weather, approximately 2,200 runners from 61 batches of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) and several other institutions participated in the landmark event.
A Flag-Off by Dignitaries and a Champion
The runners were flagged off in batches by notable figures, including Rajya Sabha member Sujeet Kumar, celebrated Indian athlete Dutee Chand, and VSSUT Vice-Chancellor Deepak Kumar Sahoo. The marathon was conceived by the university's overseas alumni network, aiming to create an inclusive platform for fitness enthusiasts of all levels.
Sasi Panda, an alumnus from the 1985 batch now based in San Jose, California, played a pivotal role in organizing the event. As an electronics and telecommunications engineer, he mobilized the alumni, students, and faculty through extensive outreach using meetings, WhatsApp, emails, phone calls, and website updates. "We designed the marathon in such a way that both experts and novice runners can participate. We had 5k, 10k and half marathon (21.1 km) categories," Panda explained.
Focus on Mental Health and a Drug-Free Lifestyle
The marathon's core theme was ‘Say yes to life, no to addiction', promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through physical fitness, awareness, and community engagement. This focus emerged from direct concerns about student well-being. Nihar Rout, a Chicago-based 1997 batch mechanical engineering alumnus present in Burla, shared, "When we spoke to the VSSUT vice-chancellor, he told us he was worried about the students' mental health. Accordingly, we floated the idea with a focus on improving mental health."
Echoing this sentiment, VC Deepak Kumar Sahoo emphasized the importance of engaging students in constructive activities. "Nowadays, education includes studying, skilling, innovating, starting some company. It is important to keep students away from substance abuse. When their mind is into physical fitness, it won't digress into drug abuse," he stated. He also noted that such public events help in building the VSSUT brand.
Global Participation Through Virtual Run
The event's reach extended far beyond Burla, thanks to an innovative virtual 5k run. Alumni and supporters across 11 countries joined the excitement from their locations. In India, virtual runs were held in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar. Internationally, participants joined from US cities like Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and Austin, as well as the UK, Switzerland, Kuwait, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Belgium, and Denmark.
Padmaja Dash, a 2007 batch alumna based in California's San Francisco Bay Area, detailed the process: "The virtual 5k run lets VSSUT alumni and friends join the run anywhere in the world. They ran, jogged and walked 5 km, tracked their run using a fitness app and uploaded the result." These results were featured on a special ‘global alumni finisher board'. Virtual participants received a VSSUT-engraved medal, a marathon T-shirt, and a digital finisher certificate. Organizer Sasi Panda added that they were given the flexibility to run anytime on January 10 and 11, aligning as closely as possible with the main event timing.
The on-ground event in Burla was a festive gathering, uniting students, alumni, local communities, and sprint enthusiasts. The half-marathon runners started first, followed by the 10k and 5k participants. Students from Govt Girls' High School in Burla, Saraswati Sishu Mandir, Burla, and Sambalpur University enthusiastically cheered the runners along the route, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of fitness and endurance.
