Hanoi Aug 8 (IANS) More than 7 000 runners from 52 countries and regions have registered for attending the 2018 Manulife Da Nang International Marathon slated for August 12 in Vietnam s central Da Nang city.

Some 900 athletes will compete at the annual event s 42 km race 1 700 at the 21 km over 1 000 at the 10 km and 3 400 at the 5 km the organizers said on Wednesday reports Xinhua news agency.

The two best Vietnamese marathoners a man and a woman will be awarded free entries for the Shonan International Marathon in December in Japan.

Da Nang International Marathon with cash prizes of 300 million Vietnamese dong (13 000 U.S. dollars) first held in 2013 is considered one of the top three marathons in Southeast Asia.

--IANS kk/sed