An open challenge to the Indian youth in Kuwait: Rise, run, and represent.

Ten years ago, I laced up my first pair of running shoes in Kuwait, with no idea where this path would lead. What began as a casual attempt to stay active soon transformed into a lifelong passion. Today, running isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle. It fuels my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Last year, something happened that left me both honored and humbled: at the 2024 Gulf Bank Marathon, I—at 41 years old—ran my first full marathon and crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Out of over 1 million Indians living in Kuwait, only 7 participated in the full marathon. I was proud to be one of them, but also surprised by how so few of us showed up. That number speaks volumes. It shows that while our community excels in many areas, endurance running isn’t yet one of them.

While I celebrated my finish, I couldn’t ignore the fact that so many other expat runners ran the race in under 3 hours. That’s a massive gap, but it’s also a huge opportunity.

We can change this.

As Indians in Kuwait, we value health, family, and education—but somewhere along the way, fitness has taken a back seat. I’ve seen it especially among the youth. Long hours on mobile phones, fast food habits, and sedentary lifestyles have replaced conscious, active living.

But here's the truth: we are capable of so much more.

Running a marathon isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about mindset. It requires consistency, patience, discipline, and grit. These are qualities every young Indian already has within them. Training for a marathon teaches life skills: how to structure your day, how to fuel your body, how to keep going when your mind wants to quit.

The health benefits? Countless. Improved heart health, better sleep, mental clarity, emotional resilience—it all adds up. Personally, running has helped me stay grounded and focused through every high and low.

Right now, I’m training for the Ladakh Marathon, one of the toughest races in India, held at high altitude in the Himalayas. And just this month, I had the privilege of completing the Lake Garda Marathon in Italy—running alongside athletes from across the globe through one of Europe’s most scenic courses.

These races push my limits, but they also reaffirm my belief in what’s possible.

And so, I pose this challenge to the Indian youth in Kuwait:

Can you be the first Indian to break the 3-hour barrier in a marathon here?

Start small, Put the phone down for an hour. Run a kilometre. Then five. Sign up for a 10K. Then a half marathon.

Train with intention. Eat to nourish. Sleep like it matters. Build the habit. Build the discipline. Build the life.

Someday soon, I hope to be cheering from the sidelines as a young Indian runner storms across the finish line in under 3 hours—representing our community with strength, resilience, and pride.

Let’s turn this into a movement.

Let’s raise the bar.

Let’s run for our health, our future, and our identity.