A felicitation ceremony was organised by the Erode SoulSapp Runners Club to honour athlete Usain Patel, who brought pride to Erode through his remarkable performance in the world-renowned Berlin Marathon held in Germany.
The prestigious international Berlin Marathon, regarded as one of the most significant athletics events in the world, was held with great enthusiasm on 27 September 2026 in Germany. The challenging event attracted elite long-distance runners from various countries across the globe. Representing Erode, athlete Usain Patel participated in the competition and successfully completed the full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres in 3 hours, 43 minutes and 53 seconds (3:43:53). His impressive achievement on the international stage has brought great honour to both Erode district and the state of Tamil Nadu.
In recognition of his accomplishment and for elevating Erode's name on the global athletics platform, the **Erode SoulSapp Runners Club** organised a special felicitation function at Rukra Mahal, Erode.
During the event, V.M. Vengidusamy, District President of the Tamil Nadu Government Officers Union, Erode District, participated as a special guest and honoured Usain Patel by presenting a shawl and mementoes in appreciation of his outstanding achievement.
Addressing the gathering, V.M. Vengidusamy congratulated Usain Patel and stated that his success, achieved through hard work, dedication, and perseverance at the international level, would serve as a great source of inspiration for the younger generation.
The function was attended by office-bearers of the Erode SoulSapp Runners Club, including Prabhu, Santhosh, Raghav, Satheesh, Nandakumar, Sekku, Sivasankaran, and Nithya, along with prominent guests and numerous sports enthusiasts, who extended their heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the athlete.