The eighth edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, scheduled for Sunday, December 17, is set to witness a showdown of elite Indian runners, headlined by Asian Games Silver-Medallist Kartik Kumar and Olympian Gopi Thonakal. The race, tagged #AamarKolkataAamarRun, will feature a formidable Indian Elite field, promising a thrilling competition with a US $100,000 prize at stake.Kartik Kumar, who clinched silver in the men’s 10,000m race at the 2022 Asian Games, is in peak form. The 24-year-old recently dominated the Half Marathon circuit, securing victory at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in 2022 and finishing as the runner-up among Indians at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in 2023.
Challenging Kartik is the experienced Gopi T, an Olympian and former Asian Marathon Champion, along with Asian Games Bronze-medallist Gulveer Singh. The trio, in top-notch form, is expected to provide tough competition to the international elite runners.In the women’s category, Tamsi Singh, the in-form runner who triumphed at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2023, is the favorite. She faces competition from Ekta Rawat and Nirma Thakur, promising an exciting race for the Indian women’s honours.
The Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, boasts an AIMS-accredited 25K course, taking runners through iconic city landmarks. The international lineup includes 10K world record-holder Yalemzerf Yehualaw and two-time world championship silver medallist Daniel Simiyu Ebenyo.With equal prize money for Indian Elite men and women winners and an additional Event Record Bonus, the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K 2023 is poised to be a highlight on the Indian road racing calendar. The current event records stand at 1:15:17 for men and 1:26:53 for women.
