Pal, Sudha take honours among Indians in Delhi Half Marathon

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 21: In this file photo, Yuan Jin of China (L) runs alongside Sudha Singh of India at the 16th Asian games in the women’s steeplechase event

New Delhi, Sep 30 – Rahul Pal and Sudha Singh won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in the elite Indian men and women’s category respectively here Sunday.

Rahul Pal clocked 1:06.12 hours beating second placed army man Nitender Singh by two seconds. Indrajeet Patel finished third, only one second behind Nitender.

Among the women, Olympian Sudha Singh won the elite Indians with a timing of 1:19.34. Kavita Raut, who won in 2007 and 2008, finished second with 1:06.53 while defending champion Lalita Babbar managed third with 1:20.47.

Sudha, who took part in London Olympics in the 3,000 metre steeplechase, trained in Eldoret, Kenya for six months before the Games to improve her timing by practising at high altitudes.

“My stint in Kenya helped me bring down my timings by almost eight-nine seconds. Training at higher altitudes helps you bring your time down when you run at sea level,” said Sudha.

In the elite men’s section the race was won by Kenyan Edwin Kipyego clocking 1:00.55 while Yimer Wude of Ethiopia took the honours among elite women with a timing of 1:11.10 in the eight edition of the Delhi Half Marathon.