Ebenyo and Kebede Return to Defend Their Tata Steel World 25K Crown

Defending champions Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) and Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) will return to defend their titles in the world's first World Athletics Gold Label 25K Race, the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, scheduled for Sunday, December 15.

The current event record in the Men's category is held by Daniel Ebenyo, with a timing of 1:11:13, and the Women's record is held by Sutume Kebede, with a timing of 1:18:47.

#AamarKolkataShonarKolkata will witness some of the world's best athletes take center stage at the US $142,214 prize money race. With equal prize money for the men’s and women’s winners, the top three winners will receive $15,000, $10,000, and $7,000, respectively. The runners will also be incentivized by an Event Record Bonus of US $5,000.

The women's line-up for 2024 also includes Desi Jisa from Bahrain, who won the 2022 edition here. Jisa was part of the Bahraini team that earned a bronze medal in the World Cross Country Championships in 2017 and placed second in the recent Doha (2023) and Seoul (2024) marathons.

"I am always eager to run again in Kolkata and am happy to be part of the Tata Steel World 25K in 2024," said Jisa, returning after a year’s absence.

Another past champion in Kolkata (2017), Degitu Azimeraw, hails from Jisa's native nation, Ethiopia. Earlier this year, she won the Barcelona Marathon, clocking 2:19:52. She made an incredible comeback, placing sixth in the recent edition of the Chicago Marathon in October after a maternity break. She will be another notable runner to watch in Kolkata. Her compatriot Alemaddis Eyayu, the winner of this year’s Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, will make her debut in the 25K distance.

Kenya’s Viola Chepngeno, who finished third in Delhi last year, and Ethiopia's cross-country World bronze medalist Shintayehu Lewetegn have also confirmed their entries.

Earlier this year, Kebede improved her personal bests in the half marathon (1:04:37) and marathon (2:15:55), achieving world-leading times in both events in 2024. This sets the tone for faster timings and a keen contest among the women runners.

Daniel Ebenyo aims to better his timing (1:11:13) from last year, which was just 5 seconds slower than his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's 1:11:08 at the 25K split during his World Record marathon run (2:01:09) in Berlin. Ebenyo is determined to claim the absolute best 25K timing.

"The Kolkata roads are fast, and conditions are ideal; it is a perfect opportunity for me to defend my title and better my timing," said the reigning champion, Daniel Ebenyo, confirming his entry for 2024.

Kenya's Benson Kipruto and Haymanot Alew of Ethiopia will make the men’s field even more competitive. Earlier this year, Kipruto won the Tokyo Marathon with a season-leading time of 2:02:16. During the race, he was officially timed at 1:11:39 at the 25K split. He went on to win the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics this summer.

Alew finished just outside the podium in Kolkata last year but redeemed himself a month later with a second-place finish in the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The presence of Kipruto and Alew alongside Ebenyo promises a thrilling race in Bengal's capital this December.

Two other notable entries in the men's section are Stephen Kissa and Diriba Girma. Kissa, the Ugandan, finished fifth in the World Championships Marathon in Budapest last year. Diriba (21), the younger brother of multiple World Championship medalist Lamecha Girma, is hoping for a breakthrough in his entry into the road running circuit.

Speaking about the competitive international athlete line-up in the elite category, Vivek Singh, Joint MD of Procam International, said, "The return of defending champions and course record holders, Ebenyo and Kebede, augurs well for the world’s first World Athletics Gold Label 25K race. It underscores the event’s growing global stature.

Amateur registrations across categories have reached new heights, reflecting the widespread popularity of the event.

We wish all participants the very best as they prepare to go the distance on Sunday, December 15."

Over 20,000 amateur runners from India and around the world will participate in the ninth edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata.

Elite Field for the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata 2024

MEN ELITE FIELD:

1. Daniel Ebenyo (KEN/1995) (25KM PB 1:11:13) 

2. Benson Kipruto (KEN/1991) (HM PB 60.06) 

3. Stephen Kissa (UGA/1988) (HM PB 58:56) 

4. Haymanot Alew (ETH/1997) 1:13:44 

5. Bravin Kiptoo (KEN/2001) (HM PB 59:37) 

6. Samuel Kibet (UGA/2001) (HM PB 60:50) 

7. Dejene Hailu (ETH/2003) (HM PB 61:16) 

8. Teka Assefa (ETH) (HM PB 61:47) 

9. Anthony Kipchirchir (KEN/2001) (HM PB 62:02) 

10. Diriba Girma (ETH/2003) Debut 

11. Alazar Tefera (ETH/2004) Debut 

12. Asbel Rutto (KEN/2002) Debut 

13. Bernard Cheptoch (UGA/1992) Debut 

14. Emmanuel Kibet (UGA/2004) (PACER) 

15. Rodgers Murei (KEN/2002) (PACER) 

WOMEN ELITE FIELD:

1. Sutume Kebede (ETH/1999) (25KM PB 1:18:47) 

2. Degitu Azimeraw (ETH/1999) (HM PB 66:07) 

3. Desi Jisa (BRN/1997) (25KM PB 1:21:04) 

4. Viola Chepngeno (KEN/2000) (HM PB 66:43) 

5. Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH/1999) (HM PB 67:04) 

6. Meseret Dinke (ETH/1996) (HM PB 69:53) 

7. Annet Chelangat (UGA/1993) (HM PB 70:16) 

8. Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH/1996) (HM PB 70:23) 

9. Misgane Alemayehu (ETH/2004) Debut 

10. Thomas Higgs (GBR/1996) (PACER) 

11. Abrham Kebede (ETH/1997) (PACER)