Bengaluru: When the sun rises on Sunday morning in Bengaluru, the city will wake up to a different vibe. One that is prevalent only once a year. The traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city will give way to the thousands on the street running together, some for a cause, others to feel part of it and then some to test themselves against the challenge of completing the run spanning 10kms.
The city’s very own run is back. For close to a decade, TCS World 10K run has brought people from across the city together in their eagerness to take part in the Open 10K and soak up the scenic beauty of the city that lay, unbeknownst to them, hidden in plain sight, often overlooked due to their everyday busy life.
And as it does every year, the event also brings up some of the most impressive runners from across the globe along with their Indian counterparts. With last year’s winner in the elite men’s category, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, absent from the competition, all eyes will be on Kenyan Micah Kogo, who holds the second best time ever in 10K road race. Kogo, will however face stiff challenge from the Ethiopian pair of Birhanu Legese and Kinde Atanaw while compatriot and famed cross country racer Japhet Korir too will be eager to make a mark.
Mosinet Geremew, who finished third at the Delhi Marathon last year, is another one to keep an eye on. If the men’s race is hard to predict, the elite women’s run is almost impossible to call. With 2009 winner Aselefech Mergia back in the reckoning along with Kenyan Emily Chebet, Mamitu Daska, who has been wining consistently all over the globe and Belaynesh Oljira, the race has all the makings of classic.
Malika Asahssah will be missing due to an injury. Mergia, who made a strong comeback this year following 18 months away after having a baby, has fond memories of racing here. “I remember coming in with four others into the stadium and sprinting to the finish when I won in 2009,” she reminisced. “The race here is more humid than it is in Europe so it is a little difficult to run. It will be a tough race as there are a ot of regular 10K runners,” she added.
Meanwhile among the Indians, last year’s winner BC Tilak will lead the men’s contingent while Man Singh and Khetaram, who is coming on the back of a strong show in the Federation Cup earlier this month, are the other main contenders. Monica Athare and L Surya will be the women stars to look out for.
