Souvik Saha
The 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata witnessed a historic day for Indian athletics as Gulveer Singh and Seema shattered national course records, while Uganda’s Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei lived up to expectations with a commanding victory in the international elite men’s race.
On a chilly winter morning in Kolkata, elite runners from across the globe delivered thrilling performances, reaffirming the Tata Steel World 25K’s status as one of Asia’s premier long-distance road races.
Joshua Cheptegei Dominates International Elite Men’s Race
Double Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) showcased his class by clinching his first Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata title, clocking 1:11:49. Cheptegei controlled the race from the start and surged ahead in the final four kilometres to outpace Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania (1:11:56) and Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho (1:11:59).
Although he missed the course record of 1:11:13, Cheptegei’s composed performance underlined his dominance in global distance running.
“Winning was more important than the record. Coming back to Kolkata and winning gives me great confidence,” said Cheptegei.
Degitu Azimeraw Upsets Two-Time Champion Sutume Kebede
In the international elite women’s race, Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw delivered a clinical, front-running performance to dethrone defending champion Sutume Asefa Kebede. Azimeraw crossed the finish line in 1:19:36, leading from start to finish.
Kebede finished second in 1:20:28, while Meselech Alemayehu completed an all-Ethiopian podium with 1:20:48. Despite the win, the course record remained with Kebede.
Gulveer Singh Breaks Indian Course Record in Elite Men’s Category
The biggest Indian highlight came from Asian Games double gold medallist Gulveer Singh, who produced a sensational run to break his own Indian course record. Gulveer clocked 1:12:06, improving his 2024 mark by over two minutes.
Running briefly with the international elite pack, Gulveer later pulled away decisively from the Indian field. Harmanjot Singh (1:15:11) and Sawan Barwal (1:15:25) completed the podium.
“Records come from consistency, discipline and patience. India is rising step by step,” said Gulveer.
Seema Smashes Eight-Year-Old Record in Indian Elite Women’s Race
Seema delivered a dominant performance in the Indian elite women’s category, clocking 1:26:04 to break the eight-year-old course record of 1:26:53 set in 2017.
The Asian Cross Country Champion led from the early stages and widened the gap consistently, finishing over four minutes ahead of Sanjivani Jadhav (1:30:34). Nirmaben Thakor (1:32:02) secured third place.
“The course is more challenging now, but I came here with the mindset to win. My next target is qualifying for the Asian and Commonwealth Games,” Seema said.
Team Events and Special Categories Add Colour to the Race
The Vijay Diwas Trophy was claimed by Indian Navy 1, while the Police Cup saw strong performances in both men’s and women’s team categories.
The popular RUN in Costume segment brought creativity and enthusiasm to the event:
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Solo Winner: Indrakshi Haldar
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Group Winner: Run for Pause
Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata Continues to Shine
With record-breaking Indian performances, world-class international participation, and strong grassroots involvement, the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata 2024 once again reinforced its reputation as a landmark event in the global road racing calendar.
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