Veteran runners to newbies, fitness freaks to the differently abled and senior citizens to teenagers, the starting block at eastern India’s premier road race will be an eclectic mix.

The booking slots for The Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, partnered by The Telegraph, are filling up fast, the organisers said. The race is slated for December 15.

Nikhil Golchha, an engineer, will be at the starting block on Red Road, aiming to improve his timing in the 25km segment. Golchha has been taking part in the 25K category of TSK since its inception in 2014.

But he was far from a trained runner back then. In 2013, he would drive his grandfather from their Wood Street home to Elliot Park, where the octogenarian would spend “about 40 minutes to an hour” with friends.

Golchha would spend the time jogging around the park. Soon, he ventured out to the Victoria Memorial and Red Road and the next year, he enlisted for the full stretch of the inaugural edition of the race.

“I was not prepared and had cramps towards the end. But I somehow managed to reach the finish line,” said Golchha, now 41. He has since founded a running club that has more than 50 members. He has run marathons in several Indian cities and abroad.

“The fitness factor is very much there. But I also love running because of the many friendships I have forged over the years because of the sport. Calcutta hardly knew about running as a sport when TSK started. Now, there are so many running groups,” said Golchha.

The TSK 25K is widely credited with inspiring a running revolution in Calcutta and eastern India.

A flood of registrations — more than 17,500 — forced the organisers to stop registration before time last year. In contrast, in the inaugural edition in 2014, the organisers struggled to find enough participants.

Saniya P., 19, a TSK debutant, is among the youngest runners in the 25K segment. The BBA student in Mumbai started running during Covid.

“I fell in love from the word go. There has been no looking back since,” said Saniya, who has taken part in marathons in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Penav Mota, 28, was born with visual impairment and became fully blind by the time he was 15, just months away from his Class X exams. He took the test with the help of a writer and scored over 70 per cent.

“That was the best I had ever done in school,” said Mota, who is a practising advocate with a master’s degree in criminal law.

Having started running locally, the Thane resident has also aced this test. He has done full marathons (42km) in Mumbai and Pune and some 17 half-marathons in various cities. Like any other visually impaired participant, Mota runs with a guide.

“I had been to Calcutta as a child. I remember visiting Darjeeling as well. I am kicked about my second visit,” said Mota.

Taking part in the Senior Citizens’ Run (2.3km) will be Haradhan and Shipra Dutta, a couple from Durgapur.

Haradhan is 69 and Shipra 60. It was Shipra, a prolific kabaddi player in school, who urged her husband to morning walks. The couple have taken part in veterans’ sports meets across Bengal and will be debuting in TSK this year.

“We are really looking forward to running in front of so many people,” said Shipra.

Their daughter got the registrations done.

On-ground registrations for 25K, Open 10K, Ananda Run (4.5km), Senior Citizens’ Run (2.3km) and Champions with Disability (2.3km) started on September 19 at https://tatasteelworld25k.procam.in/ and will stay open until November 29, the organisers said.