MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
regular-article-logo Thursday, 19 December 2024

25K champions vow to defend title, Tata Steel World to witness international runners line-up

The current event record in the men's category is held by Daniel Ebenyo from Kenya, with a timing of 1:11:13. The women's record is held by Sutume Kebede, from Ethiopia, with a timing of 1:18:47. The records were made last year

Debraj Mitra Calcutta Published 09.12.24, 05:50 AM
Representational image

Representational image File image

The reigning champions will return to eastern India's marquee road race to defend their titles.

Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, partnered by The Telegraph, will see an impressive line-up of international runners at the starting line on December 15.

ADVERTISEMENT

The current event record in the men's category is held by Daniel Ebenyo from Kenya, with a timing of 1:11:13. The women's record is held by Sutume Kebede, from Ethiopia, with a timing of 1:18:47. The records were made last year.

Both Ebenyo and Kebede will return to TSW 25K this year, the organisers said.

"The Kolkata roads are fast and conditions are ideal; it is a perfect opportunity for me to defend my title and better my timing," Ebenyo said.

Kenya's Benson Kipruto and Haymanot Alew of Ethiopia will be among the top contenders for the pole position.

Earlier this year, Kipruto won the Tokyo Marathon. He went on to win the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics this summer.

Alew finished just outside the podium in Calcutta last year but bagged the second spot in the Tata Mumbai Marathon.

The women's line-up for 2024 includes Desi Jisa from Bahrain, who won the 2022 edition here. Jisa was part of the Bahraini team that took a bronze medal in the World Cross-country Championships in 2017 and placed second in the recent Doha (2023) and Seoul (2024) marathons.

"I am always eager to run again in Kolkata and am happy to be part of the Tata Steel World 25K in 2024," said Jisa, returning here after a year's absence.

Another past champion in Calcutta (2017), Degitu Azimeraw, who hails from Ethiopia, will also be a top draw. Earlier this year, she won the Barcelona Marathon.

"The return of the defending champions and course record holders, Ebenyo and Kebede, augurs well for the world's first World Athletics Gold Label 25K race. It underscores the event's growing global stature," said Vivek Singh, managing director of Procam, the race organisers.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT