TSW 25k holds 20,537 Runners in all to gab attention, Including 6978 for Across INDIA.
Srijita Das, Kolkata ::: No quarters given and none will be asked for when the elite distance runners cluster together at the starting line of the world’s only Gold Label road race at this distance making Tata Steel World 25K, Kolkata, one of most anticipated and hottest contest to be televised live on Sony 5 HD on Sunday December 15.
Procam International, one of the few promoters in the world, has now to its credit four Gold label races- Tata Mumbai Marathon, Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10k and Tata Steel World 25k Kolkata 2024. Labelled as the only World Athletics Accredited 25K, the prize money of USD 142,214 will be witness 20,000 + participants from around the world.
Ethiopian Sutume Kebede, who changed her coach and recovered from a prolonged stomach problem to go on to win the last edition of Tokyo Marathon, said, “I had time to prepare for this event. I am confident that I will be able to defend my championship.”
Daniel Ebenyo, is not only the defending champion here but a bonafide track and road racer. Talking to the media he said, “I will try for a course record here. The weather is good, the course is very friendly.”
Also participating in the race is Benson Kipruto, a veteran of 16 marathon and Bronze medal winner in Paris Olympics and winner at Tokyo Marathon. Talking about his participation here, he said, “I have come prepared for the race. I want this to set off the next year. I will try and challenge for the winner’s spot ”
On the Indian front, it will be a three-way duel to the finish line with Sawan Barwal, Gulveer Singh and Abhishek Pal all promising a hard fought battle to breast the tape at the finish line at TSW 25K Kolkata. Avinash Sable holds the current event record in the Indian Elite Men’s category, with a time of 1:15:17, and L. Suriya holds the Indian Elite Women’s record, with a time of 1:26:53. 
Meanwhile, Local girl from Tribeni Lili Das has hogged quite the attention. “I am very focussed. I have trained for this event. This event will boost me for the Asian and World Athletic Championship next year,” said the Junior Asian Championship winner in 800 and 1500 mts. “I am very proud to run for the first time in Kolkata. I hope the people will cheer for me along the road. I promise to give my best,” said Lili.
The 25 km Elite race will be flagged off by Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal C V Ananda Bose, West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, Debasish Kumar, MLA, MMIC, KMC; Lt Gen R C Tiwari, GOC Eastern Command; Adille Sumariwala, President, Indian Athletics; Rajesh Sinha, Principal Secretary, West Bengal Government; Maj. Gen. Rajesh Arun Moghex, GOC Bengal Sub-Area; Brig. A K Das, Dy. GOC, Bengal Sub-Area; Chandan Roy Chaudhary, Bengal Olympic Association and Naarayan TV, COO, IDFC FIRST Bank.
Lt. Gen. R C Srikanth, Chief of Staff, Indian Army, will flag off the Open 10 K & Police Cup. TSW 25K Kolkata 2024 Ratna, Koushani Mukherjee will be there at the start line.
RACE TIMINGS
| Race Category | Start Time | Distance |
| Start & Finish : Indira Gandhi Sarani Rd. / Red Road | ||
| 10K Open + Police Cup | 5:30 am | 10K |
| 25K Elite | 6:30 am | 25K |
| 25K Amateur + Vijay Diwas Trophy | 6:32 am | 25K |
| Senior Citizen’s Run & Champions with Disability | 8:20am | 2.3K |
| Ananda Run | 8:50am | 4.5K |
25K (including Elite & Vijay Diwas) 4765, Open 10K (Including Police Cup) 7950, Ananda Run 5475
Senior Citizen Run 1957, Champions with Disability 390
Manoj Verma IPS, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, and Mrs. Sharda Verma will both run 10K. Subhankar Sinha Sarkar IPS, Addl CP. Running 10K. D P Singh IPS, Addl. CP, Subhankar Sinha Sarkar IPS, Addl CP and Santosh Pandey IPS, Addl CP all are running in 10K. R C Srikanth COS, Indian Army & Mrs. Ashima Srikanth running in 5K.
Tata Steel MD, T V Narendran is running in Ananda Run.
With the weather forecast for Sunday with a min temperature of 14 degree Celsius and high of 23 degree Celsius and a nippiness in the air with a windspeed of 10 kmph it will be ideal conditions for the runners to test their mettle.
The Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata will be telecast live on Sony Sports Ten 5 (HD & SD) on Sunday, December 15 from 6:15 am onwards.
World cupper and event brand ambassador Sol Campbell and Tata Steel Ratna and Tollywood diva Koushani Mukherjee had a fun pasta making afternoon on the eve of the TSW 25k Kolkata. The duo also tasted a pasta cookout by other groups present.
