In the junior category, Poonam Solanki (girls) and Chandresh Solanki (boys) from Una town in Junagadh district emerged winners.

Out of 232 entries received from 17 states, 141 participants took part in the competition. While competitors in the men’s group had to climb up and down 5,000 steps en-route to Ambaji peak, the women competitors had to cover 2,200 steps from Mali Parab peak to Girnar Mountain.

The competition in junior group (men’s) turned out to be tough, as the difference between the time covered by the first and the second winner was just a second.

A large number of spectators turned out since morning at Bhavnath, the venue, at the foot of the Girnar Mountain.

Apart from medals, the three winners in each group were also given prize money of Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.

The Girnar mountaineering competition is organised regularly every year jointly by the state’s cultural activity department, Junagadh district administration and youth associations in the state. Since 2008, the competition has achieved national status.

The State Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Fakir Vaghela flagged off the race in the men’s group while women's competition was flagged off by Junagadh Municipal Corporation Mayor Jyotiben Vachhani.

The winners:

* Men (Senior): Bhikhu Rathod (Veraval) 56.38 minutes

* Women (Senior): Kamlesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) 35.46 minutes

* Men (Junior): Chandresh Solanki (Una) 60.44 minutes