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Strong field for Delhi marathon

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, to be flagged off at Vinay Marg on Sunday, has attracted a strong international field this year.

There are seven men who have run under 60 minutes for the distance and four women who have cracked 70 minutes. Men’s defending champion Dieudonne Disi of Rwanda has come back, but women’s defending champion Derebe Alemu of Ethiopia could not make it because of an Achilles tendon injury.

Good prize money

With a total prize money of $2,10,000, with the winners in men and women’s sections getting $25,000 each, it was only natural for the top runners to make it to Delhi.

“Apart from the prize money, they come to run good times,” says Ian Ladbrooke, international athletes’ manager.

Disi apart, those with sub-60 personal bests among men are: Dickson Marwa of Tanzania (59:52), Ethiopians Deribe Merga (59:16) and Tilahun Regassa (59:36) and Kenyans Joseph Maregu (59:54), Wilson Chebet (59:33) and Robert Kipchumba (59:28).

Marwa was third last year.

“On Sunday anything is possible and no one can be considered as the favourite,” said Disi. “There is a batch of athletes from Ethiopia who would be tough to beat.”

Among women, the ones to watch out for would be Ethiopians Mergia Aselefech (PB 69:57), who was second in the World road running championships in Rio last month, and Kenyan Peninah Arusei, fifth in Rio and winner in Berlin. Arusei’s Berlin timing of 68:22 puts her at No. 3 in the world lists this season.

Leading contenders

Kenyans Magdalene Mukunzi, who was second to Ethiopian Gete Wami in the Great North Run in England this season, and former World 10,000 champion Sally Barsosio should also be leading contenders among women.

“I am happy to be back. I have been back in training for nine months. I have been training hard; I hope to do well on Sunday,” Barsosio said. This will be the first big event for the Kenyan on her comeback.

The Indians would be gunning for separate prizes. Defending champions Ram Singh Yadav and Kavita Raut will have a tough task, their main challenge expected to come from National record holders in the 10,000 metres, Surendra Singh and Preeja Sreedharan.

Especially, the women’s event is going to be interesting as both the top contenders are ready to give their best.

“I was second last time and 17th overall. I would want to keep up my motivation tomorrow,” said an optimistic Preeja.

Well-prepared

A well-prepared Kavita, however, has plans to defend her title in style. “Last year I was low on confidence. I missed out on the Beijing Olympics because of my injury. But now I am fit and have been practising hard for the last one month and I would look to break my national record tomorrow.”

The men’s competition may not as close as the women’s contest. “I was on a 20-day leave, so I have not prepared as such specifically for the event,” Surendra said.

Apart from the main event, there would be a 7km race called Great Delhi Run and a wheelchair event.

The half marathon is scheduled to be flagged off at 7 a.m on Sunday.

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