Kolkata: Three-time Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele will make his debut over the 25-km distance in the men’s elite field of the fourth Tata Steel Kolkata 25K that goes international this year, here on Sunday.
In his first race in India, the triple Olympic gold medallist and 18-time world champion has sets his sights on the top spot.
Bekele’s 25km best is 1:12:47, an intermediate time when he ran the Berlin Marathon last year and won in 2:03:03. The world record of 1:11:18 for 25K was set by Kenya’s Denis Kimetto in 2012.
“The course is new to me but I always want to explore new things. I got to know that it is flat and fast course. The weather suits me. Hope I will come back with a medal tomorrow,” Bekele said.
The men’s group could see Augustine Sulle emerge as the dark horse. The Tanzanian, competing in Brazil began his European stint with the Amsterdam Marathon and has qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games marathon.
Uganda’s Robert Chemonges and Michael Mazibuki from Russia are the other names to watch out for.
Kenya’s Helah Kiprop will lead the women’s elite pack, with compatriot Valentine Kipketer and young Dibabe Kuma from Ethiopia expected to give her tough competition.
Helah is well known in India, she was the TCS World 10k champion in 2012 and won the Cochin Half Marathon in 2013. She is also a regular at the Delhi Half Marathon.
“After the Delhi event I went back home and trained hard for the 25K run. I am confident of good show here,” Kiprop, who finished fourth at the ADHM, said.
In 2015 she took silver at the world marathon championship in Beijing and was the 2016 Tokyo marathon champion.
The elite field showcases a clash between the powerhouses in long distance running as all East African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Eritrea and Tanzania are in attendance. There is also participation from Italy and South Africa.
Lakshmanan, Suriya hope to leave mark
Defending champion G. Lakshmanan and his cousin L. Suriya, who won the ADHM in November, could well be the top bets in the Indian elite field.
“It is a tough field. But I will try to repeat my feat from last year. I know the competition is very tough. But I hope to put up a good show,” Lakhsmanan said.
The Indian elite contingent consists of 12 men and 11 women with Lakshmanan, Kalidas Hirave and Avinash Sable leading the men’s line-up. Meanwhile, defending champion Monika Athare, Swatee Gadhave, Jyoti Gawte and Monika Raut led the women’s field.
Lakshmanan has won the 5,000 and 10,000mts in Asian meet recently and looks in good form.
But it’s the women’s line-up that looked more competitive. Suriya is a bright young entrant and has her reputation preceding her thanks to her 1.10.31 timing in Delhi.
