Saree Power: Odia Woman Runs Manchester Marathon In Sambalpuri Saree

A UK-based Odia woman ran a 42.5 kilometer-long marathon by wearing a sari in Manchester city, turning the heads of all in the island nation.

Forty-one-year-old Madhusmita Jena, a high school teacher in Manchester had participated in many marathons and ultra-marathons across the globe.

While speaking to The New Indian Express, Madhusmita said, ” I was the only person to run the marathon wearing a saree. Running for such an extended period of time is in itself an uphill task but doing so in a saree is even more difficult. But I am happy I was able to complete the entire distance in 4.50 hours.”

“Many believe women cannot run wearing sarees but I proved them wrong by doing the task draped a Sambalpuri handloom. I anyway wear sarees during summers in the UK,” said the 41-year-old whose family belongs to Kusupur village, around 30 km away from Kendrapara.