100 elite athletes, including world’s fastest 10K runner Malika Asahssah confirmed to headline the run
With race day fast approaching, Procam International today announced a total tally of more than 25,000 runners and a 100 elite runners for the eighth edition of the TCS World 10K, Bengaluru, with a prize money of USD 194,376. The elite line-up for the World’s Premier 10K represents the best of track & field and road-running.
Headlining the run will be the fastest woman in the 10K category, Morocco’s Malika Asahssah, her maiden appearance in the TCS World 10k, she will be hoping to break her 30:58 minute record on race day here in Bengaluru. The elite line-up also includes, defending champion in the women’s category Kenya’s Lucy Kabuu, & Guye Adola, Course Record Holder for Men in the Delhi Half Marathon 2014. Alongside, looking to live up to his reputation, the winner of the Berlin Half Marathon 2015 Birhanu Legese will also be seen at the start line.
Complementing the international athletes, will be the Indian runners, which include, defending Champion B C Tilak with a course-time of 30:26, Suresh Kumar, 2014 Delhi Half Marathon Winner, and International Cochin Half Marathon Winner, Lakshmanan G. Amongst the women, the race day will witness, defending champion in the Women’s category of the TCS World 10K Swati Gadhave, Winner of the 2015 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, Kavita Raut, and Surya L winner at the Cochin International Half Marathon 2013
Commenting on the preparations for the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru 2015, Nagaraj Ijari, Vice- President & Global Head Hi-Tech & Professional Services Business Segment, TCS said, “TCS World 10K has been hosting top-notch Elite International and Indian Athletes in Bangalore. This year, we are proud to be associated with yet another set of distinguished runners who have redefined track & field and road running through their stellar performance across the globe. Bangalore’s response is a testament of our enthusiasm and commitment towards the joy of running. We eagerly await race day and wish every participant, including 4,000 of our very own TCSers, all the very best.”
The Elite Distance Running Program, launched by Procam International, will also field eight runners including Federation Cup Gold Medallist Preeti Lamba at the TCS World 10K. Started in August last year with the aim to promote middle and long distance running at the grassroots for Indian athletes, the program provides a new competitive platform for Indian runners, to train and hone their talent through access to competitive infrastructure and training facilities. The Elite Distance Running Program today has 15 athletes training under the guidance of internationally renowned runner Hugo Van Den Broek, Head Coach from Global Sports Communication (GSC).
On the course with the elite athletes and continuing the enthusiasm of the last seven years will be more than 13,000 runners in the Open 10 K Category including more than 112 teams in the DHL Corporate Champions, over 11,000 runners in the Majja Run category, an increase of 500 runners from last year and over 800 runners in the senior citizen category as well as more than 200 runners in the Champions with Disability category.
Marking the beginning of the countdown towards Race Day, Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International said, “Bengaluru has always welcomed the TCS World 10K with a lot of enthusiasm and this year looks to be even better. The fact that we have consistently registered more than 25,000 runners over the years just goes to show how the run has evolved into a community activity and become an integral part of Bengaluru. We wish every runner the very best for what we anticipate to an amazing run.”
Over the years, the most respected brands have partnered TCS W10K for the transformational role it plays in bringing individuals, organizations and institutions together. SEIKO, World Leader in timing technology, who for over half a century, have been at the forefront of world sport, supporting international events, including six Olympic Games, four soccer World Cups and twelve athletics World Championships and with the world’s leading tennis player, Novak Djokovic announced their debut association with TCS World 10 K as the Official Timing Partner.
Bengaluru’s favored taxi aggregator, Uber also announced their association with the TCS World 10K offering a rare chance for runners to leave behind parking woes or having to hitch a ride. At the push of a button, Uber will send across a comfortable, air-conditioned car that will pick-up customers curbside and drop them to the closest point to the start line for a fare low as Rs.7/KM.
Procam also announced the dates for the ‘Mirchi Get Active Expo’, a one-stop destination for runners to be held at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium between the 8th & 10th May 2015. The Expo will remain open through the weekend between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm on all three days, while Procam International shall set-up a special expo for outstation runners on 16th May 2015, at Freedom Park. The weekend of 8th May will also see the finals of the Cigna TTK Treadmillion Challenge, where the winners will take home prizes worth Rs. 1,00,000.
The Expo will serve as a venue for bib-collection and will also house exciting stalls to assist the runners on race day by leading sports brands such as Nike, Reebok, Puma, Asics and Proline, alongside TCS, Perfomax, Narayana Health, Giant Starken, Enerzal, Tom Tom, Jabong and Volini.
