East India’s biggest participative sporting celebration adorns a new avatar. The City of Joy will now host the prestigious World Athletics Gold Label Race —Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata. The world’s richest 25K, with prize money of USD 142,214, will witness some of the fastest athletes alongside amateurs on Sunday, December 15th, 2024, line-up on Red Road.
World 25K Kolkata registration for the on-ground and virtual run will commence on September 19, 2024, IST 7:00 am onwardhttps://tatasteelworld25k.procam.in/.
The World Athletics Gold Label has been accorded to Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata based on stringent criteria, including organizational excellence, a world-class elite field, equal prize money for male and female runners, extensive medical support system, live television coverage for the race, media facilities, timing mats on the course, a clear sanitized route, and an AIMS certified course to ensure a pleasant running experience for all participants.
Commenting on the occasion, Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “At Tata Steel, we have always believed in the power of sports to unite and inspire communities. The Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, now a prestigious World Athletics Gold Label Race, is not just a race but a celebration of resilience, fitness, and togetherness. This recognition affirms the race’s world-class standards, attracting elite athletes and showcasing Kolkata on the global stage. It is an honour to witness the city embrace this event year after year, and we are committed to making this edition even more memorable by encouraging participation from across all segments of society.”
Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata has redefined the health, fitness,inclusion, sustainability and giving paradigm in West Bengal.
In a short span of eight years, running has been firmly rooted as the fastest-growing sport in the region. There has been a steady increase in participation across the timed categories and an over 270% increase in women’s participation. Moreover, with a carefully curated flat course and favourable weather, Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata has some of the fastest timings in the world. At the 2023 edition, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo clocked 1hr.11mins:13secs, to break the men’s stand-alone World’s Best time ever in the 25Km distance.
Besides this, the race has also provided a platform for Indian athletes to compete with the best. It has birthed the running ecosystem in the Northeast Region, with a 1700% growth in timed events from 2014 -2022; today, there are more than 75 races across the region, with 48 in West Bengal alone. The event has strengthened the bond with civil society, brought the community together for social good, and raised INR 4.39 crores for philanthropic causes.
HIGHLIGHTS 2024:
Cricketer Jhulan Goswami, along with actress Koushani Mukherjee, will continue as the Ratnas for this edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata.
Another key person of this event Mr.Vivek Singh, expressed, “Amateur Running is the fastest growing participative sport in our country with more than 1000 runners taking up the sport every day. Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata has steadily elevated the level of competitiveness and we are proud it has truly put West Bengal on the global running map. As we kick off registrations for the 9th edition, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, city authorities, and the running community who have consistently supported us in making Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata a World Athletics Gold Label Race and one of the biggest sporting celebrations in India”.
To encourage women’s participation, a limited number of spots have been reserved in both the 25K and open 10K races. From this event onwards, all participants who register for the run must submit their timing certificate, which is mandatory in the 25K category.
Virtual Run – For the first time runners from around the globe can join the race through the exclusive Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata app. The virtual race options include a 25K, Open 10K, and 5 km. Registration will start at 7.00 am on Thursday, September 19th, and remain open until 11:59 pm on Thursday,December 5, 2024, or as soon as running places are over, whichever is earlier.
