Countdown to TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014 begins

TCS World 10K Meet & Greet Pic

Procam International, promoters of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore 2014, today announced that the total registrations received for the upcoming run had crossed a phenomenal 25000, crossing last year’s count by around 3000 registrations. A superfast elite athlete field to challenge existing course records, new initiatives for the year and details on the Get Active Expo for the TCS World 10K were among the significant announcements made in a Meet & Greet Session at the ITC Windsor, Bengaluru, the Official Host Hotel, on Tuesday.

The occasion was also used by the promoters to declare its preparedness to present an improved seventh edition of the World’s Premier 10K run that presents itself as a classical synthesis of track & field and road running and offers many of the world’s fastest track athletes and their road-running counterparts an opportunity to come together and vie for glory. The seventh edition of the unique run will be flagged off from Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday, May 18 2014.

Present on the occasion Mr. Nagaraj Ijari, Vice President & Global Head of Hi-tech & Professional Services Business Segment, Tata Consultancy Services,Mr. Virendra Razdan , General Manager, ITC Windsor, Mr. Vivek Jawali, Chairman of Cardiac Fortis,Mr. Sandeep Juneja, Vice President Commercial, DHL, Ms. Rashmi Sharma, Cluster Head, Radio Mirchi Bangalore, Mr Murray Culshaw, Founder Chairman Bangalore Cares, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rai, Secretary Karnataka Athletic Association, Ms.Reeth Abhraham, International Athlete, Mr. P.N. Sankaran, Director Operations, Procam International and Mr. Vivek B Singh, Jt. Managing Director, Procam International.

Commenting on the preparations for the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore 2014, Nagaraj Ijari, Vice-President & Global Head Hi-Tech & Professional Services Business Segment, TCS, “Today we stand on the threshold of yet another edition of the TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014, an event that continues to change the way the world looks at 10K runs. We are glad to present improved events each year and look forward to welcoming top track & field and roadrunners from across the world, within India, and from Bangalore to the run. We wish them the very best as they train for the run.”

Strong response from Bangalore city: It has been a momentous seven-year journey for the World 10K Bangalore since its inception in 2008, with the event setting benchmarks in terms of elite athlete participation, the involvement of the city and the amount of money raised for charity. For the seventh year, the total participation in the event has crossed 25,000. This commitment from the participants propels Procam International to deliver superior events year after year.

The Open 10K Run, which also includes contests ‘Nike – The Young and The Fast’ and the ‘DHL Corporate Champions’, has received around 13,200 entries, a whopping 2500 more than last year, while the Majja Run 10,600. The Senior Citizens’ Run will have over 750, while the event for the Champions With Disability will see 250 participants. Besides these races, the feature events of the day will be the World 10K for elite men & women.

Track athletes and their road-running counterparts to come together in a superfast elite athlete field: Global Sports Communication (GSC), the event’s elite athlete coordinator has put together a highly competitive field of elite athletes for the TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014, with an aim to lower existing course records.

The men’s record stands at 27.51 minutes, set by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese in 2008, while the women’s mark stands at 31.58, set by Ethiopian Yimer Wude in 2010. An added incentive of USD 7500 is up for grabs for the new course record.

Leading the field at the stadium’s start line on Sunday, May 18 will be defending champion and world famous Alex Oloitiptip among men, and winner of a stunning seven medals at World Championships, Linet Masai on the women’s side.

Bringing out the true character of the event as a leading track & field and road-running event, the 10K Bangalore will bring together top road racerunners such as Alex Oloitiptip, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, Lucy Kabuu and Meselech Melkamu and their track & field counterparts Moses Kipsiro, Vincent Chepkok, Linet Masai and Ababel Yeshaneh.

Each of the runners has highly impressive qualifications. While Alex is the event’s defending champion, Geoffrey ran the fastest half marathon of 2013, Lucy is among the world’s leading female distance runners, and Meselech is one of the fastest debutants in marathon in 2012.

Among the track & field experts, Moses won the 5000m and 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Vincent was the 8th fastest athlete in 10,000m in 2013, Linet has won several medals at the World Championships in different events, and Ababel was the 5th fastest female runner over 10,000m in 2013. This proves that the event presents itself as an extraordinary platform where the world’s finest runners come together and strive for victory.

According to Jos Hermens of GSC, besides Linet, the other strong contenders in the women’s run will be highly experienced Ethopian Meselech Melkamu, winner of five bronze medals at the World Cross Country Championships, and the brilliant Lucy Kabuu, who finished fourth in Bangalore last year and won the Delhi Half Marathon in 2011. They can expect to be given a run for their money by Ethopian runner Guteni Shone, back in Bangalore after impressing the running fraternity at last year’s TCS World 10K by finishing second behind Gladys Cherono.

Linet Masai is part of the ‘Masai Running Family’, having talented runner Moses and Dennis Masai as her brothers and Magdalyne as her younger sister running international as well. Her Gold at the 2009 Berlin World Champs 10,000m is the highlight of her career so far. She also clinched a 4^th place at the Olympic Games 10,000m in 2008. Holding a World Junior 10,000m Record (30.26.50) and a World Best 10 miles (50.39) proves Linet is among the best female long distance runners and should be the woman to beat.

Meselech has a great career on the track and cross-country behind her. She won five bronze medals at the World Cross Country Championships and won the golden medal in the junior race in 2004. Meselech represented Ethiopia at five World Championships, with her silver medal at the 10,000m in 2009 as a highlight. During the same year, she set a new African Record in the 10,000m by running a fabulous 29.53.80. Meselech Melkamu decided in 2012 to move to the marathon and made her debut in Frankfurt, winning the race in a quick 2.21.01.

Lucy currently holds the 2nd fastest half marathon time in history, 66.09, clocked at the RAK Half Marathon last year and the 9th fastest in the full marathon, run in Dubai 2012. She is also winner of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in 2011. After finishing fourth in last year’s Bangalore 10K, she is aiming for a top three position this year.

After her top performance in Bangalore last year, Guteni went on to win both Luanda and Egmond Half Marathons. At the 2014 RAK Half Marathon, she finished third in a very competitive field. She will be one runner to watch out for.

The exciting men’s field includes 14 athletes who have run the 10 km just above 28.00 on either track or road and poses a strong challenge to the existing course record.

Leading the Men Elite Athletes will be defending champion of the event and Kenya’s Alex Oloitiptip. After his victory in Bangalore last year, Alex made his half marathon debut in Luanda where he was runner-up in a highly competitive running field. Making a transition to road races, Alex is happy to be back in Bangalore and remembers with pride his top achievements that include winning the 2014 Azkoitia – Azpeitia Half Marathon.

Alex will face stiff competition from Geoffrey, the 2014 World Half Marathon Champion and former world junior cross champion. His personal best of 58:54, set at the RAK Half Marathon this year, ranked him number one on the IAAF top lists. Geoffrey will come to India for the fourth time. He won the Bangalore 10K in 2012 and was runner-up in the 2011 and 2013 Delhi Half Marathon.

Other top athletes such as Ethopia’s gifted Birhanu Legese, the fastest man in the run with a best of 27:34, and Kinde Atanaw, Morocco’s Najim El Qady, and Kenyans Jacob Kendagor and Peter Matelong will ensure edge of the seat action. Posing a threat to the Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes will be American athletes Jeffrey Eggleston and talented Ugandan debutant Joshua Cheptegei, making his international debut in Bangalore.

Not new to India, Moses is a strong contender too. He took the second place in Bangalore in 2008 and 2010, and aims at taking the first place this year. Last year, Moses had the biggest win of his career on the road by beating Wilson Kipsang and Haile Gebrselassie in the Great Manchester 10K.

Known to be a strong athlete who combines track and road races, Birhanu will add depth to the field in Bangalore. He had his breakthrough at the Great Ethiopian Run in 2012 by finishing second. Last year, he took the third place in Bangalore before he started his track season. Birhanu improved his personal best at the FKB Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands to 13:15.32, and is a man who can do extremely well in the run this year. Even though Kinde Atanaw’s athletics career started only two years ago, the Ethopian made a huge progression, especially at the 10K. After finishing fourth at the 2012 World Junior Championships, he improved his personal best to 27:36 in Prague last year.

Vincent Chepkok won his first international medal at the WC Cross Country in 2007, where he finished second in the junior race. In 2011, he took the bronze medal in the senior race. Vincent was among the bests track athletes for the past few years. In 2013, he ran the 8th fastest time of the year on the 10.000m. So far he has run 11 times sub 13:00 in the 5000m on the track and it will be interesting to observe his performance in Bangalore.

Get Active Expo: The Get Active Expo for the TCS World 10K Bangalore will be held at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium from May 9 to 11, 2014. For the first time, leading sports brands such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Asics and Proline will present at the Get Active Expo and display a wide array of products for the benefit of participants. Apart from them, TCS, Perfomax, Narayana Health, Jungle Formula, Dr. Lal Path Labs, Enerzal, Art of Living, Myntra and Mana projects will also be present.

The Expo will be on between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm on all three days and will be the venue for all confirmed participants from Bengaluru and its suburbs to collect their running numbers along with goodie bags.

The new dates constitute a whole weekend and give participants the whole of Friday, Saturday and Sunday to come and collect their running numbers. The period of a week before Race Day also gives them ample time to study in detail, race day instructions, familiarize themselves with security arrangements, traffic restrictions, road closures and other arrangements that will come into force for Race Day.

Rashmi Sharma, Cluster Head, Radio Mirchi Bangalore, said, “Radio Mirchi 98.3FM is glad to bring the Get Active Expo to Bangalore and give participants of the TCS World 10K an opportunity to celebrate the best in fitness, health and lifestyle plus experience all the excitement surrounding the event. It creates a platform for runners to witness the latest technological advancements in fitness and benefit from world class health and lifestyle brands under one roof.”

Charity bibs for the Majja Run at Rs. 1500 and Open 10K at Rs. 2500 are available with Bangalore Cares and at the Get Active Expo until numbers last. A slew of fresh initiatives have been planned to make the running experience on May 18 more memorable.

Nike The Young and The Fast:Nike, the official running partner of the TCS World 10K Bangalore, is committed to innovation and to setting new benchmarks at the TCS World 10K, counted amongst the most respected road races in the world.

This year, the world’s leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories announced a grand reward for male and female winners in the 15 to 24 age group of the Open 10K category. The fastest male and female runners will win an exclusive opportunity from Nike to run at an epic International location alongside runners from across the world.

Announcing the reward, Avinash Pant, Marketing Director, Nike India Pvt Ltd said, “Nike always inspires athletes around the world, in redefining standards, and in rewarding achievement, strength of mind and purpose. We are delighted, this year, to announce an award that will give young runners a chance to experience something truly epic. Running at an epic international location, alongside runners from across the world, will leave them inspired to run faster and better.”

The DHL Corporate Champions: This category of the TCS World 10K Bangalore is open to Corporate Teams to help make the experience of running more fulfilling and competitive for the serious corporate runner. The DHL Corporate Champions is gaining tremendous popularity among organizations of all sizes and is being viewed as a highly effective team building exercise for employees. This year, yet again, the run has received overwhelming participation from many of the leading corporate houses across the city and country. The total number of teams registered is 78 and includes names such as IBM, SAP Labs India, ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, ORACLE INDIA, SONY INDIA SOFTWARE CENTRE , TESCO HINDUSTAN SERVICE CENTRE, GE INDIA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INDIA.

The winning team will take home Rs. 1,00,000, and the runners-up will receive Rs. 75,000. The next three finishers will stand to win Rs. 50,000, Rs. 36,000, and Rs. 30,000 respectively.

Announcing the category, Mr. Sandeep Juneja, Vice President – Commercial, DHL Express India said, “Marathon running is all about endurance that tests your physical and mental strength and requires a great running form. Each of these elements make a great running experience and this year to bring in diversity we have made it mandatory for teams to have atleast one woman athlete. This is to encourage women runners to showcase their abilities through running and make DHL Corporate Champions even more exciting. We thank all participating teams and corporates and wish them all the very best.”

Selfie Contest: To keep up with the growing running community on the social media platforms, this year the promoters have introduced a #selfie contest. Take a selfie while training for the TCS World 10K Bangalore, post it on the Facebook page of the run using #TCSWorld10K, and stand a chance to win exciting event merchandise. One lucky winner will get a chance to take a Selfie with the one and only Carl Lewis.

Your Race Day photos: Successful distance running is a huge personal achievement and what better way to share the experience and story with friends and relatives than through a personal photo?

Procam International continues its association with Marathon-Photos.com, the market leaders in event photography, specializing in long distance road races. Runners participating in any of the race categories will get an opportunity to own their running highlights captured in photographs, taken by Marathon-Photos.com, the official event photographer.

Marathon-Photos.com will be photographing participants at several locations on the race route and at the finish. Photographs will be available on the event website within 72 hours of the race.

Kingfisher Run in Costume: There’s added fun and excitement in store for the Majja Run participants in the form of the Kingfisher Run in Costume. There are attractive prizes in two categories up for grabs, and participants will be judged on the criterion of creativity and effort put into making of the costume.

The Kingfisher Sakkath Bangalorean category for individuals offers a first prize of Rs. 30,000, with the second and third winners standing to gain Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively. The Kingfisher Bombaat Brigade for Group participants (minimum 10 members per group) carries a first prize of Rs. 75,000, with the runner-up team winning Rs. 50,000.

Let’s come together once again and make that one supreme effort to deliver another incomparable event to embellish Bangalore’s rich sporting tradition.