Registration open for Dhiraagu Road Race 2023

Registrations for this year's Dhiraagu Road Race have been opened today.

This year’s iteration of the Dhiraagu Road Race is scheduled to be held on October 27.

Dhiraagu said at a press conference held today that this year there will be a new route, unlike previous years. This route will be a World Athletics-certified route. While there will be the usual 10k and 5k race, this year the road race will introduce a half marathon option for runners as well.

Speaking at the press conference today, an official from the road race team, Bishaaraa Hameed, said that Dhiraagu road race is dedicated to socially important slogans. This year's theme, like other years, is to protect and safeguard children.

12 NGOs that are involved in some form of the theme will participate in the race. The participating NGOs are ARC, BVISM, Cancer Society of Maldives, Care Society, Child Abuse Prevention Society, Diabetes Society of Maldives, Maldives Association for Persons with Disabilities, Maldives Autism Association, Maldivian Thalassemia Society, Moms Aid, Society for Health Education, and Tiny Hearts of Maldives.

Bishaaraa also said that participants will also have the opportunity to nominate NGOs when registering for the race and the DMRR team will provide financial assistance to the NGOs that are nominated the most.

“The five NGOs with the most nominations will be awarded a special donation of MVR 2 lakh from Dhiraagu,” Bishaaraa said.

In addition, the money received for each registration and each desirable bib number will be distributed among the participating NGOs, she said.

The race will be split into three times. The half marathon will be held at 3:30 am, 10k will be held at 5:30 am, and last but not least, 5k will be held at 4:30 pm. 

The 10k and 5k routes are almost the same, while the half marathon route will be slightly different. Each of these routes will have four hydration centres.

The minimum age for official participation in the race is seven years. Participants of 5k, must be 16 years of age or older, while participants of the 10k and half marathon, must be 18 years of age or older.

Speaking at the press conference, the Assistant Marketing Manager of Dhiraagu, Hassan Sharih Adam, urged the road racers to get ready and fit for the race in the next two months.

Huge sums have been set for this year’s prizes as well. He also highlighted that the prizes for the newly introduced half marathon will also be very attractive. 

The race has been held every year since 2007 and is now the most popular road race in the Maldives. In addition, the first Dhiraagu road race started with 150 people. Currently, 4,000 people are participating in the race.