“It is great to see the spirit of running in India and how PUMA is providing a platform to nurture this spirit further,” uttered legendary sprinter Asafa Powell on his maiden visit to India.
Coming from the man who holds the world record for the most sub-10 second runs (98) in 100M running, you can be well assured he knows what he is talking about. The Jamaican, visibly impressed by the facilities, highlighted the important role PUMA has been playing in increasing the popularity of running in India.
The German sportswear giants have been actively involved in getting more people to take up running. With an aim to improve the sport from the grassroots to the very top, PUMA have associated with all major running groups in running pockets in India. Every running event that happens in the country has a notable presence by PUMA, who are the undisputed market leaders in the sport in India.
And when one of the most anticipated running events in the country is set to take place, how can they be far behind? PUMA are the Official Ignited Partners for the 2016 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) and have brought together a star-studded line-up to headline the event. From Asafa Powell to Milkha Singh, PT Usha to Ashwini Nachappa, PUMA has brought all these legends to Delhi to witness the 11th edition of ADHM.
Nobody could sum up the magnanimity of the task PUMA executed for ADHM better than Milkha Singh.
“PUMA have put in tremendous effort bringing together legends like Asafa, Milkha Singh, PT Usha, Ashwini Nachappa on one platform. And we are sure it will be a great success,” said the Flying Sikh.
Star-studded line-up for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
The ADHM, over the years, has been among the most popular running events in India and its success can be seen by the fact that more than 34,000 people have registered for the event this year. In fact, the participation of such a large number indicates the popularity of ADHM across the city and nearby regions.
Several international athletes including 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya, Yigrem Demelash from Ethiopia and 2016 World Half Marathon Championship winner Peres Jepchirchir will be participating, adding star power to the race.
Catering to the entire society, the ADHM is divided into multiple categories – the Half Marathon, Great Delhi Run, Senior Citizens’ Run and Champions with Disability. The minimum age eligibility for the Half Marathon is 18 years while for the Great Delhi Run, it is 12 years, with distances of 21.097 km and 6 km, respectively. Organisers of the event have aimed at bringing together people from all age groups, thereby making it a day for everyone.
Sport in India has been on the rise in the past few years and the colossal numbers that take part in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon are a reflection of the same. And who better to popularize this than the list of legends present in Delhi, which also includes the sub-10 man, legendary Jamaican sprinter – Asafa Powell!
