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The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Over 35,000 runners participate in TCS World 10K Bengaluru
The streets of Bengaluru came alive on Sunday morning as over 35,000 runners participated in the 17th edition of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru, an annual 10 km road running competition in the city, with the sunny weather setting the perfect backdrop. Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Bengaluru South, was also among the participants of the 10-km run. 'Seeing cancer survivors, new mothers, and countless individuals who have overcome immense personal challenges participate alongside us is deeply inspiring,' Mr. Surya said. Thomas Bobby Philip, a popular figure in the running community, stressed the importance of running barefoot. 'Every living being is born barefoot. Wearing shoes is unnatural,' Mr. Philip said. He marked his 15th consecutive year at the event. Mr. Philip also praised this year's race route, calling the final stretch 'a beautiful, rolling incline' that allowed runners to pick up speed towards the finish. 57-year-old Bimla Banwala, who chose to run in a 'salwar kameez', a traditional Indian attire, stole the spotlight on Sunday. 'The salwar kameez is what I always wear, so I see no reason to change it for a run. In the beginning, I wasn't allowed to participate in many runs because of the way I dressed. Fellow competitors objected to it, but I was firm,' Ms. Banwala said. Ketan Abhonkar, a seasoned marathoner since 2015, did the run while jugglin three balls. Mr. Abhonkar discovered juggling during the pandemic and gradually combined the two skills. 'Running alone became monotonous. Juggling brought a fun challenge,' he said. Mr. Abhonkar joked that he owns more sets of juggling balls than running shoes. Sathya Mahadev, a specially-abled participant, did his debut run in a 2011 marathon. 'The facilities provided here were perfect for specially-abled people,' Sathya, a passionate cricketer, said. Several NGOs participated in the event to raise awareness for various causes. One such organisation, Amar Seva Sangam, aimed to raise funds for the inclusive education of children with disabilities in schools run by them by being part of the Open 10K. This is the 11th successive year of participation for the sangam. The TCS World 10K Bengaluru turned out to be a fun outing for a family of four. 'My father is a fitness fanatic. One day, he declared he was going to participate, with or without us. He said we were welcome to join,' said Navneeth, who had his mother, wife, and father Kailesh for company.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Cheptegei, Chepngeno lead the field in TCS World 10K run
The 17th edition of the TCS World 10K run, with nearly 35,000 enthusiastic participants, is set to liven up an idyllic Sunday morning here. The streets of central Bengaluru will wear a festive look bright and early, as the event commences at 5.30 a.m. with the elite World 10K Women. The World 10K Men will be flagged off from Cubbon Road at 6.08 a.m., followed immediately by the Open 10K. The early start for elite runners is bound to quicken the pace, given that the sun will not be out in full force. The route, meanwhile, has undergone some changes to accommodate faster timings. 'The course is in good shape, and we have taken feedback from last year to navigate a less intimidating route. The inclined stretch on Kamaraj Road that was at the final stretch of the route is now at the middle of race, making it more accessible and friendly to all participants,' race director Hugh Jones said. Reigning Olympic 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei will lead the field in the World 10K Men category. Gabriel Gerald Geay, who finished seventh in the World Championship Marathon three years ago, will challenge Cheptegei. Uganda's Stephen Kissa, who finished third here in 2017, is another notable contender. Nicholas Kimeli holds the course record for men at 27:38s. Kenyan runner Cintia Chepngeno is one of eight women who have clocked personal bests faster than the course record of 30:35s, held by her compatriot Irene Cheptai since 2022. Eritrean athlete Rahel Daniel, who finished fifth in 10,000m in the 2022 World Championships, will be Chepngeno's primary challenger. The Indian elite men's field will be spearheaded by Sawan Barwal, who recently set a 10,000m meet record at the Federation Cup. Sanjivani Jadhav, 2017 Asian Championships 5,000m bronze medallist, starts as favourite among Indian elite women. The World Athletics Gold Label Race offers a total prize purse of $210,000.
