Hyderabad: Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu flagged off the 5K run at the second edition of the Tri Cities Half Marathon 2026 in Warangal. The event promoted fitness, sportsmanship and health awareness among young people. Organised by Naini Vishal Trust and CREDAI Warangal, the marathon attracted registrations from around 4,000 to 5,000 participants. Meanwhile, Warangal West MLA Naini Rajender Reddy and Wardhannapet MLA K.R. Nagaraju also attended the programme.
Speaking at the event, Sridhar Babu stressed the importance of maintaining good health. He said physical exercise, sports and meditation could help people manage stress, anxiety and other health problems. Therefore, he urged young people to avoid harmful habits and include sports in their daily lives. He also welcomed the response to the marathon, with around 4,000 to 5,000 people registering to participate.
The minister also discussed the state government’s development priorities for Warangal and Hanamkonda. In particular, he referred to efforts concerning the Warangal airport, Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, industrial growth and employment generation. Furthermore, he called for better opportunities for talented athletes from rural areas. He urged those concerned to support these athletes in reaching national and international sporting platforms.
Tri Cities Half Marathon promotes fitness and drug awareness
Meanwhile, Wardhannapet MLA K.R. Nagaraju said sporting events could help address rising stress and health concerns among young people. He explained that sports could reduce mental pressure while building self-confidence. In addition, he praised MLA Naini Rajender Reddy, Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Dr Sri Goda Reddy for organising the event through Naini Vishal Trust.
Naini Rajender Reddy said the Tri Cities Half Marathon aimed to improve health awareness, discourage drug use and promote sportsmanship among the public. He also noted that the event had received a stronger response than the previous year’s edition. According to him, the increased participation was encouraging for the organisers.
Following the event, the MLA thanked Minister Sridhar Babu and Nagaraju for their support. He also acknowledged CREDAI representatives, sponsors, organisers, athletes and young participants for helping make the programme possible. The second edition featured the 5K run, which Sridhar Babu formally launched by waving the flag.