Ethiopian long-distance runner Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who won the 2022 London Marathon, will be a hot favourite among the women in eastern India’s biggest road race.
In the men’s group, Kenyan Daniel Simiyu Ebenyo, a two-time world championship silver medallist, will be the one to beat.
The eighth edition of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, partnered by The Telegraph, is scheduled on December 17.
One of India’s biggest running festivals and the World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, the TSK 25K will see some of the world’s best athletes take centre stage at the $100,000 (Rs 83.5 lakh approx) prize money competition. With equal prize money for the men and women winners, the first three in each race stand to win $7500, $5000 and $3500.
The current event record, in the men’s category, stands in the name of Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton with a timing of 1:12:49 and the women’s record in the name of Bahrain’s Desi Jisa with a timing of 1:21:04.
“Making her debut at the 25K here, the 10K world record-holder (29:14 in 2022) Yehualaw is the leading lady to watch among the women runners. She also sits second on the world all-time list at the half marathon with a time of 1:03:51 set in 2021,” the organisers said.
Yehualaw, now 24, took her first victory in a World Marathon Major at the 2022 London Marathon, becoming the youngest-ever female winner of the event.
“I’m happy to run in India once again. My experiences so far have been amazing, and I hope to add another great experience in Kolkata at TSK 25K. I am coming to Kolkata to run fast and I look forward to the race,” said Yehualaw.
Her compatriot, Anchinalu Dessie, and Kenya’s Betty Chepkemoi Kibet are the main challengers for Yehualaw.
The front-runner among the men, Kenya’s Daniel Simiyu Ebenyo won two world championship silver medals this year. First at 10,000m in Budapest last August, and then in a half marathon in Riga (capital of Latvia) at the inaugural World Road Running Championships, before winning a half marathon in Delhi in October. His Calcutta appearance will be his debut at the 25K distance.
His compatriots Roncer Kipkorir Konga and Bernard Biwott are expected to push Ebenyo for the top podium position.
“The stacked men’s field also features Eritrean (Eritrea is an east African
country) marathon national record-holder and multiple-distance running specialist Hiske Tewelde, who will be the dark horse,” the organisers said.
“We are very happy that each year we have grown as an elite race and the line-up speaks for itself. We have some of the best distance runners in the world participating in the TSK 25K, making it one of the most sought-after races at this distance,” said Vivek Singh, joint managing director, Procam International, the organisers of the race.
