1,800 Participants Colour Campal at 2nd Edition of ‘Live Life in Colour’ Mathias Panaji Run 2026

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Panaji witnessed a vibrant celebration of fitness and community spirit as 1,800 participants took part in the second edition of the ‘Live Life in Colour’ Mathias Panaji Run 2026. Organised by the Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town, the event was held at the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) ground, Campal, and marked a key service initiative of the Club.
Set against the festive backdrop of Holi and Shigmo, the colourful run brought together participants of all age groups from across Goa and neighbouring states, promoting health, fellowship and social responsibility.
Director General of Police, Goa, Alok Kumar, flagged off the run amid enthusiastic cheers. North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav participated in the 10K timed run and later distributed prizes to the winners.
Dignitaries present included Director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr Ajay Gaude; title sponsors Joe Mathias and Mariola Mathias; Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town President Gauresh Nayak; Secretary Gajanan Karkare; Director Projects Sunil Pai Kane; and Run Convenor Sheetal Pai Kane.
The event featured three categories — a 10K timed run, a 5K walk/run, and a special 1K category for NAB and PWD participants. The 10K category saw runners ranging from 13 years to over 70 years competing across various age groups.
In the 10K Overall (18 years onwards) Male category, Babu Gaonkar secured first place with a timing of 00:33:07. Anurag Konkar finished second at 00:34:04, while Akash Agarwadekar took third place with 00:34:45.
In the Female category, Hansine Benoit clinched first place with a timing of 00:46:40. Dr Blanch Themudo finished second at 00:49:05, followed by Vikita Desai in third place with 00:49:28.
Special prizes were awarded in the 5K and PWD categories, including recognitions for the most enthusiastic male, female and child participants, the oldest and youngest runners, and the best group performance.
Addressing the gathering, Ankit Yadav, Kirit Mahatre and Joe Mathias lauded the initiative and highlighted the importance of maintaining fitness and encouraging community participation. Run Convenor Sheetal Pai Kane welcomed the runners, encouraged them to stay safe and run strong, and expressed confidence that participation would cross 2,000 next year. The vote of thanks was delivered by Gajanan Karkare.
Beyond promoting physical fitness, the event supported Rotary’s flagship social initiatives. These include Saksharata (educational grants for deserving students), Sudharata (financial assistance for corrective surgeries), Sahayanta (nurse training for elderly care), Swachata (installation of water purifiers in schools in remote areas), and Sanjivani (provision of medical resources such as oxygen concentrators and fowler beds).
Members, Anns and Annets of the Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town, along with Team Yoska, ensured the smooth conduct of the event.
Participants travelled from across Goa and from cities including Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Belgaum and Karwar. The lively atmosphere along the route featured a brass band performance at one station, a hot breakfast post-run, and a unique finisher’s medal depicting runners against the backdrop of the Mandovi river and the Atal Setu.
Adding to the festive mood, students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Vasco, enthralled the crowd with energetic drum and percussion performances, making the morning a memorable celebration of colour, community and commitment to social causes.