New Delhi: Some of the creme-de-la-creme of distance running in the world, including defending champion Edwin Kipyego and world's fastest man Geoffrey Kipsang, will vie for honours in the ninth edition of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here tomorrow.
A regular feature since 2005, Delhi Half Marathon will witness a stellar field this season also as most of the big names in the world have assembled here and a fierce competition is expected on a chilly morning.
Kenyan runners Kipyego and Kipsang have already made their intentions clear in the run-up to the race, saying they would look to clock their personal best tomorrow. Kipyego, who has a personal best of 60.04 which he recorded this season at Philadelphia Half Marathon, feels it is the "toughest" ever field he has competed in his career.
"The field is very strong. It is the toughest that I have competed ever. But I have trained hard and I will look to better my personal best here," Kipyego said.
Kipyego's fellow countryman Kipsang will be his closest rival in the race which has roped in former 100m world record holder and Olympic champion Donovan Bailey of Canada. Kipsang was ranked number one in IAAF top lists after turning in his personal best of 58:54 in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon this year and he is rearing to go tomorrow.
"I was here in 2011, I was second. But I am here again and I want to do well this time. I have been preparing hard and hope to improve further on Sunday," said the former world junior cross country champion.
There are many other names to look forward in the men's elite field, including Sammy Kitwara, who has two sub-59 and sub-60 timings, Dennis Kimetto, the 25 km world record holder, Wilson Kiprop, winner of the Lisbon and Roma Half Marathons in 2013, Leonard Langat, Daniel Chebii, Ghirmay Gebresealassie of Ethiopia and Qatar's Nicholas Kemboi, winner of the Rabat Half Marathon 2013.
The women's competition too boasts of some big names, including defending champion Wude Ayalew, Meseret Hailu, world champion 2012, Kenya's Lucy Kabuu, who won the RAK Half Marathon in February.
Kabuu, the fastest woman this season, has won the event in 2011 and is confident of doing well in spite of having just recovered from illness. "I have recently recovered from Malaria and initially, my condition was not satisfactory. But my daughter insisted and encouraged me to participate in the event and win it. I will run for my daughter," said Kabuu, who has a personal best timing of 66:09 during RAK Half Marathon.
Among others in women's category, Gladys Cherrono, winner of the Prague Half Marathon 2013, Florence Kiplagat, winner of the Berlin Marathon 2013 are the other top names. Delhi's chilly weather will also favour the athletes tomorrow and according to defending champion Kipyego, the cool conditions would play a big role in faster timings.
"I am thankful to the organisers to pushing the event to December. The weather is very cool and good for the runners. Last year it was quite hot and humid," said Kipyego.
In the Indian category, last year's winners, Rahul Kumar Pal and Sudha Singh will return to defend their titles in men's and women's categories respectively.
While Rahul, who had won with a timing of 66.12 minutes in hot and humid conditions last year, will be looking forward to better his personal best of 65 minutes, Sudha too will be confident of a good show especially after already adding to her name the half marathon crown in Mumbai in January.
Both athletes will also be looking to lower the course records, which carry a bonus of Rs 1 lakh, in addition to the winner's purse of Rs 2.5 lakhs. The course record of 64 minutes for Indian men stands in the name of Deepchand Shaharan, set in 2009, while for women it's 77.12 minutes, set by Kavita Raut in 2008.
The Indian men's elite field will have 53 runners, including V L Dangi, who has a personal best of 64 mins; Kheta Ram, Hoshiar Singh and G Laxmanan -- all sub-65 minute athletes. Also in the fray are former winners Suresh Kumar Patel, Irappa D Akki and Soji Mathew, who will be looking to stake their claim to a podium finish.
Among women, Sudha will have to fight it out against two other fancied names, Kavita Raut and Preeja Sreedharan. Kavita, back from a break, recently won the Vasai Virar Mayor's Marathon and will be looking to regain her title.
Other women in the field of 25 are sisters Monika and Rohini Raut, former winner Lalita Babbar, Vijaymala Patil, Swati Gadhwe and Neelam Rajput, to name a few.
