Olympic qualifying trio - O P Jaisha, Sudha Singh & Lalita Babar gear up to go head-to-head at the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K on Sunday Dec. 20

Lalita Babar will be a part of the trio

Indian Women Elite runners, O P Jaisha, Sudha Singh and Lalita Babar today interacted with the media ahead of the TataSteel Kolkata 25K, which will be run on Sunday. Top 30 India's elite Men &Women athletes gear up for the second edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K,scheduled to off from Red Road in the city of Joy on December 20, 2015.

In the Indian Elite women section, Lalita Babar holds the current Record inthe Half Marathon by clocking 01:10:52 in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon inDelhi. When asked about running in TSK 25K she said, "My preparation hasbeen very good this year. The kind of training we are getting and with ourpractice, the 25K Run is nothing. The Mumbai marathon will help us tostructure our plan for the Olympics. We all are trying hard to win a medalfor India."

O.P. Jaisha, the Indian track and field athlete from Kerala is the currentfull marathon national record holder at the last Standard Chartered MumbaiMarathon 2015. Speaking of her preparations, she said, "Mumbai marathon willdecide my shape for the upcoming Olympics. We get calls to run for otherchampionships throughout the world but we choose not to as the IndianMarathons offers good prize money to keep us motivated."

Lalita and O P Jaisha will be competing with last year TSK 25K runner-upSudha Singh. Sudha has been the consistent performer and was also the winnerof the half marathon in Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 and came in2nd in last year's edition of TSK 25K, clocking 01:33:49. She said, "Wehave been practicing for too long now. I have been training with my coach atthe camp since the 11th of March. My best score has improved because of mycoach. People ask me ''You don't want to go home?". Well my answer is no."

In the men's category, last year runner-up of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, ElamSingh will compete with O.Sanaton Singh and B C Tilak to win the title. ElamSingh looks forward to winning the title this year.

B C Tilak will also run the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, saying today, "I knowthis is one of the best races and I have worked hard for months now. I willtry to put in 100% no matter where it takes me. I will try my best toimprove my timings."

The long distance running coach for the Indian team, Nikolai Snesarev said"I love your country. That is why I am here. I remember wearing t-shirtsform India when I was a child. So there has always been this specialconnection."

"With so much attention, we are doing an excellent job. It is a goodexperience to run in these 25 K runs. It helps us shape ourselves up for theOlympics. We constantly keep a check on our shape each month. Only peoplewho have won medals in Asian games will compete for Olympics. We are verystrict that way."

"Our Strategy is to not have a lot of athletes, but the choicest ones."