The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Chance to rub shoulders with the best

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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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Chance to rub shoulders with the best

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: The Nation’s Challenge is a unique introduction to the Sunfeast World 10K run. It is a chance for the top national runners to run with the Elite world class field and more importantly as a team. And for a reward, an impressive ‘prize fund’ awaits the winners.

For the first time, 19 States and units affiliated to the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) have entered the fray, with the teams from Air Force and SSCB fielding runners only in the main event.

“There is a lot at stake with such a fantastic field to compete with….and we hope to match them stride for stride,” top Indian runners led by Kashinath and Soji Mathew said.

Optimistic

Surinder Singh, Kavita Raut and Preeja have all qualified for the summer extravaganza in Beijing and are not here for this event and Sunita Godara, the former Asian Marathon champion (1992), who is co-ordinating for the Indian challengers is forecasting a good challenge. In the women’s section, the likes of Bhagwati (Delhi), Preethi L. Rao (Railways) and Pashotlima Devi (Manipur) sounded confident of doing well.

Irappa Akki, the MRC runner, who won the Bangalore half marathon a couple of seasons ago, sounded quite optimistic. “We know the conditions better and the route. Should be able to run the foreigners close,” he said.

The humidity will be a bother. Peter Tergat, the Kenyan multiple world champion, said the race would be close. “It’s going to be a very competitive and close race. The temperature at 8 a.m was around 25 degrees and the humidity high…it will take a lot out of the runners.” Tergat said.

Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse, with a personal best of 27.24 at the Manchester event, in the 10 K should provide Tergat and Moses Masai a close fight.

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