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Sunmaya Budha wins Wenling 70km – Chinese ultra race with 4,500 runners and big prize money - by just 9 seconds

  • Sunmaya Budha says ‘thinking about past is not enough for me’ as she rises from rural Nepal to ultra stardom
  • Budha beats Xiang Fuzhoa, ITRA-ranked No 2 100km female runner worldwide

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Sunmaya Budha on her way to a nine second victory in the Wenling Golden Coast Trail Race. Photo: Naden81

Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha battled to a nine-second victory over China’s Xiang Fuzhao in the 70km Wenling Golden Coast Trail Race, cementing her rise from poverty and an arranged marriage to ultra-running stardom.

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The pair collapsed at the finish line, having exchanged the lead back and forth for more than seven hours.

Sunmaya, 25, said she could hardly breathe during last few hundred metres.

“I didn’t have much idea about this race but was told it’s one of biggest and most important races in China so I thought there would be some good competition,” Budha said.

“When I learned Fuzhao was racing 70km I knew she would be one of hardest to beat.”

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On the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) rankings, Xiang is ranked number two in Asia for all distances and Budha a place below. Xiang, 32, is also the No 2 woman worldwide for 100km.

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