BE, Kolkata :::: Defending champions Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) and Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) will return to defend their titles in the world’s first World Athletics Gold Label 25 K Race, Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, which is scheduled on comming Sunday, 15 December. 
#AamarKolkataShonarKolkata will witness some of the world’s best athletes take centre stage at the US $142,214 prize money race. With equal prize money for the men and women winners, the top three winners each stand to win $15000, $10000, and $7000, respectively. The runners will be further incentivised by an Event Record Bonus of US $5,000.
The women’s line-up for 2024 also includes Desi Jisa from Bahrain, who won the 2022 edition here. Jisa was part of the Bahraini team that took a bronze medal in the World Cross-country Championships in 2017 and placed second in the recent Doha (2023) and Seoul (2024) marathons.
“I am always eager to run again in Kolkata and am happy to be part of the Tata Steel World 25K in 2024,” said Jisa, returning here after a year’s absence. Early this year, Kebede improved her personal bests in the half marathon (1:04:37) and marathon (2:15:55) to take initial world leads in both events in 2024. It set the tone for faster timing and a keen contest among women runners.
Daniel Ebenyo is aiming to better his timing (1:11:13) from last year, which was just 5 seconds slower than his country-mate Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:11:08, recorded while setting the World Record 2:01:09 in the Berlin Marathon two years ago, to become the absolute owner of the 25K best.
“The Kolkata roads are fast, and conditions are ideal; it is a perfect opportunity for me to defend my title and better my timing.” the reigning champion Daniel Ebenyo revealed while confirming his entry for 2024. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto and Haymanot Alew of Ethiopia will make the men’s field attractive. Earlier this year, Kipruto won the Tokyo Marathon with a season-leading time of 2:02:16. While doing so, he was officially timed 1:11:39 at 25K. He went on to win the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics this summer.
Two other notable entries in the men’s section are Stephen Kissa and Diriba Girma. Kissa, the Ugandan, finished fifth in the World Championships Marathon in Budapest last year. Diriba (21), the younger brother of multiple world championship medalist Lamecha Girma, is expecting a big break on his entry into the road running circuit. Over 20,000 amateurs from India and around the world will participate in the ninth edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata.
MENs participate are … 1. Daniel Ebenyo (KEN/1995) (25KM PB 1:11:13) …… 2. Benson Kipruto (KEN/1991) (HM PB 60.06) ……. 3. Stephen Kissa (UGA/1988) (HM PB 58:56) ……. 4. Haymanot Alew (ETH/1997) 1:13:44 …….. 5. Bravin Kiptoo (KEN/2001) (HM PB 59:37) …….. 6. Samuel Kibet (UGA/2001) (HM PB 60:50) …….. 7. Dejene Hailu (ETH/2003) (HM PB 61:16) ….. 8. Teka Assefa (ETH) (HM PB 61:47) ……. 9. Anthony Kipchirchir (KEN/2001) (HM PB 62:02) ….. 10. Diriba Girma (ETH/2003) Debut …… 11. Alazar Tefera (ETH/2004) Debut …… 12. Asbel Rutto (KEN/2002) Debut …… 13. Bernard Cheptoch (UGA/1992) Debut …….. 14. Emmanuel Kibet (UGA/2004) (PACER) ……. 15. Rodgers Murei (KEN/2002) (PACER)
Whereas WOMENs participates are …… 1. Sutume Kebede (ETH/1999) (25KM PB 1:18:47) ……. 2. Degitu Azimeraw (ETH/1999) (HM PB 66:07) ….. 3. Desi Jisa (BRN/1997) (25KM PB 1:21:04) …. 4. Viola Chepngeno (KEN/2000) (HM PB 66:43) ……. 5. Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH/1999) (HM PB 67:04) …….. 6. Meseret Dinke (ETH/1996) (HM PB 69:53) ….. 7. Annet Chelangat (UGA/1993) (HM PB 70:16) …….. 8. Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH/1996) (HM PB 70:23) ……. 9. Misgane Alemayehu (ETH/2004) Debut ……. 10. Thomas Higgs (GBR/1996) (PACER) ….. 11. Abrham Kebede (ETH/1997) (PACER).
