Ethiopia’s Azimeraw upsets two-time champion Kebede as Cheptegei delivers on debut in Kolkata
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The 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, produced a memorable morning of racing as Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw claimed a commanding comeback victory in the women’s race, while Olympic and world champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda justified his pre-race billing with a disciplined win on his debut over the 25km distance.
Women’s race: Azimeraw denies Kebede a hat-trick
Run under cool and favourable conditions, the women’s race opened at a controlled tempo, with four Ethiopian athletes passing the 5km mark together. Among them was Sutume Kebede, the most experienced of the quartet and a two-time defending champion in Kolkata, who had also claimed victory at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year.
Azimeraw, the Kolkata champion back in 2017 when the race gained international status, remained tucked in with Kebede and Meselech Alemayehu through the early stages. Alemayehu briefly edged ahead at 15km, but it was Azimeraw who began to assert herself soon after, gradually increasing the pace and taking control of the race.
Kebede, running in third for much of the second half, attempted a late surge in the closing kilometres. However, the effort came too late to reel in Azimeraw, who crossed the finish line in 1:19:36 to secure her second Kolkata title after an eight-year gap. Kebede settled for second in 1:20:28, finishing 20 seconds clear of Alemayehu in third.
After the race, Azimeraw said:
“It wasn’t the plan before for me. It was a little crazy. My legs were a little stiff, so I just focused on going strong. But after 10km, my legs got better, and then I continued to build my race and speed, and with that, I won. I am very happy.”
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Men’s race: Cheptegei shines on 25K debut
The men’s race unfolded as a tactical battle, with Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana setting much of the early pace. Tanzanian Alphonce Simbu and Cheptegei tracked him closely as the lead group passed halfway together, hitting 20km in 57:34 and the half-marathon mark in 60:49.
Cheptegei made his decisive move shortly after, breaking clear of his rivals and opening a gap that would prove decisive. Simbu, the reigning world marathon champion, mounted a determined chase but was ultimately unable to close the distance as fatigue set in during the closing kilometres.
Cheptegei claimed his maiden 25km victory in 1:11:49, with Simbu second in 1:11:56 and Ramakongoana third in 1:11:59, completing a tightly packed podium.
Although both Azimeraw and Cheptegei fell short of the World Best and course records—and the associated USD 25,000 and USD 5,000 bonuses—victory remained the priority for the Ugandan star.
“Winning mattered more than the record for me,” Cheptegei said. “Coming back to Kolkata and winning is special. I have won in Bangalore, and this was a big race with world-class athletes. This victory gives me confidence and positivity as I prepare for my next marathon.”
Indian elites shine: Gulveer and Seema rewrite history
The Indian elite races delivered some of the most compelling performances of the day.
In the men’s race, Gulveer Singh produced a statement run of rare authority, finishing sixth overall and slicing more than two minutes off his own Indian best. Running with smooth, fluid efficiency, Gulveer surged clear of the domestic field early, briefly mixing it with the international elite before powering home in 1:12:06.
He erased his previous Indian mark of 1:14:10, set in 2024, underlining his rapid progression over the past two seasons. Harmanjot Singh (1:15:11) and Sawan Barwal (1:15:25) completed the Indian podium. By the 15km mark, Gulveer already held a one-minute advantage over his nearest rival, extending it to more than two minutes by 21.1km.
Reflecting on his performance, Gulveer said:
“Records aren’t created just like that. They come from consistency. With strong support, dedicated coaches, and relentless training, the only goal is to be better than yesterday. I don’t believe in fixing ceilings for myself. Diet, workout, and rest—that’s all I do. India is rising, step by step, race by race.”
In the women’s Indian elite race, Seema delivered an equally emphatic victory. The reigning Asian cross-country champion and World University Games silver medallist clocked 1:26:04, breaking the long-standing Indian course record of 1:26:53 set by Suriya L in 2017.
Seema dominated from the outset, building a steady lead that grew with every checkpoint. By 10km, she was already a minute clear of Sanjivani Jhadav; by 20km, the gap had stretched beyond two minutes. Jhadav finished second in 1:30:34, with Nirmaben Thakor third in 1:32:02.
“The course route has been changed, and it has now become more challenging,” Seema said. “But I came here with the mindset of winning. To win takes discipline and sacrifice, and now my target is to qualify for the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year.”
With standout international performances and record-breaking Indian displays, the landmark 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata once again confirmed its place among the world’s premier road races.
