Seems like the city is busy gearing up for this year’s marathon as every morning, runners set out from their homes, armed with fitbits and protein shakes and their favourite music in their ears, determined to achieve just one thing — the medal that commends the runners on completion of the marathon.
This year, renowned jewellery designer Suhani Pittie has been approached to design the medals for the 42k, 21k and 10k runs.
Medal designed by Suhani Pittie for the marathon
Talking about how the project came to her, Suhani says, “Hyderabad Runners approached us for this project. It felt like a perfect time to work on such a dynamic event as it coincided with the start of our brand’s journey into its second decade. Also, sports and athletics must be inculcated into one’s lifestyle. I used to be a very active footballer and am still an active runner. Given that I love running and athletics, it was a perfect collaboration.”
Although Suhani and her company have been designing trophies, designing a medal is a first for her. “This was quite exciting to do as a medal encompasses the glory of a win. To depict that within a few inches can be quite challenging. Whether it’s a child or an adult, a medal holds the same value for both — the value of hard work and a ‘never-say-die’ attitude. So I wanted to bring this forth in the design,” she explains.
It is quite apparent that a lot of thinking and deliberation has gone into designing the medals. Explaining the significance of the motifs, which also has the image of the Charminar on the lanyard, Suhani says, “The design of the medal is a symbolic representation of Hyderabad and Hyderabadis and it draws a parallel between the perseverance, agility and strength of a runner to the monumental landmarks of the city that have stood the test of time. The angular lines not only represent the rays of the sun, but have also been given a golden tint to mark the glory of the ‘never-burn-out’ attitude. The lines are also metaphorical of a strong voice. The multiple textures show the diversity of Hyderabad as does the two-tone of the metal itself.”
