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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.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
How this 10-year-old Bengaluru preemie became voice for tiny fighters
Bengaluru: At an age when most children are discovering hobbies, 10-year-old Naysa Bhattacharjee has already found her life's mission — supporting newborns in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her motivation is deeply personal as Naysa herself was born in the seventh month of pregnancy in 2015 and spent the first 45 days of her life in an NICU. Now a class 5 student at Kunskapsskolan International School, Muthanallur Cross, Naysa remembers her early struggles through stories shared by her parents. "She was very tiny with complications, and every single day was uncertain. We were fortunate to afford the treatment, but it made us painfully aware of what other families go through," said her mother Priyam Bortumuli, director of the Neonates Foundation of India. That awareness turned into action. In 2018, she joined the foundation's core team, helping connect underprivileged families with NICU care through hospitals and donors. Inspired by her mother's work, Naysa is determined to spread awareness and stand up for newborns who can't yet speak for themselves. At a fundraiser for the 17th edition of Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru held Tuesday, Naysa, at her first offline campaign, stood on stage talking about the bitter experience her mother went through. With nearly 35,000 runners signed up for the upcoming run, the event has already raised over Rs 3.4 crore for various causes. When asked what inspired her, she said, "After my parents told me what they went through during my birth, I didn't want other babies to suffer because their families can't afford treatment. I want to save them, which led me on this path." Despite her age, Naysa juggles schoolwork and social life with her new role as a volunteer fundraiser. "I started in March and attend multiple virtual meetings every week. It's manageable now because of the summer holidays, but I do get nervous before going on stage. Sometimes, it's hard to focus." — Deepshikha Acharya
