Khejuri Mini Marathon 2026.

Turiyo Talent Academy, an initiative of Turiyo Foundation run by Shimul Sarkar, was set up to find and support sporting talent among rural children who have never had access to organised sport.

Its first event was the Khejuri Mini Marathon on 21 February 2026 at Haludbari High School Playground — the first mini marathon of its kind in the region. Free entry, open to children aged 8 to 13, distances of 2.5 to 5 km, with over 500 participants expected. Medical support, trained volunteers and hydration stations along the route. Medals and certificates for the top three, a participation medal and BIB for everyone.

The point was not to find an Olympic sprinter. It was to get children moving and to build a pathway: run, then performance and potential assessment, then guidance and skill development, then a route into formal sport. The top fifteen finishers were shortlisted for further training. The programme was designed in alignment with KIRTI, the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification scheme.

On the day, 500 children came to the start line, many of them for their first race. They ran 2.5 km and 5 km courses; about half of them were girls. The top ten finishers in each of four categories — junior and senior, girls and boys — were named by the academy afterwards.