Indian elite contingent to be headlined by course record holder Suresh Kumar & poster girls of Indian athletics – Lalita Babar & Swati Gadhave

18th May, Bengaluru 2018: As the city counts down to the 11^th edition of the TCS World 10K, on Sunday the 27^th of May, race promoters Procam International today announced the Indian Elite line-up for the TCS World 10K, a Gold Label race. The Indian elite line-up boasts of a complementary mix of recent champions and course record holders, while registrations for all other categories closed at a whopping 24,088 runners. Of the over 24 thousand registered runners, 15,200 participants have registered in the Open 10K, which is an increase of 1,495 from last year’s numbers.  The elite start will boast of 105 of the World’s best track and road racers, including the Half Marathon World Champion: Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor, Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta, along with defending champion Alex Korio. Bringing color to the spirit of running in Namma Bengaluru on Sunday, the 27th of May will be 7,150 participants in the Majja Run category, 952 Senior Citizens and 486 participants in the Champions with Disability category.

Commenting on their association with the event as title Sponsor, Nagaraj Ijari, Vice President, Head TCS Bengaluru Operations, said, “Tata Consultancy Services is delighted to be associated as the title sponsor of TCS World 10k in Namma Bengaluru since the last 8 years. The run this year is special to us as it marks the 50 years of TCS and the 150th anniversary of the Tata group. We are proud that this has grown in stature and popularity and today it has become a premier event of Bengaluru. The race attracts runners not just from the city but across the globe. TCS world 10K is a great way to increase our engagement with the community, raise funds for charity as well as create societal awareness about the necessity of good health and fitness.  At Tata Consultancy Services we encourage both TCSers and their families to participate across all the race categories. This year too, over 4,000 TCS associates, their families and customers will participate in the TCS World 10K Bengaluru while contributing to a social cause. TCS will continuously strive to promote wellness and a culture of giving back to society within the organization through events such as the TCS World 10K Bengaluru.”

  Adding to the fervor of this year’s run, Dilip Jayaram, CEO, Procam International shared, “The TCS World 10K has through its eleven years of existence attracted the best road and track racers from across the world. This year, we are honored to have the World Champions headlining our elite line-up, a true testament to the stature this run has gained globally.”Continuing, Dilip Jayaram said, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the civic authorities for all their support in ensuring we are on course to hold yet another successful run, while the city is in the midst of transition. We extended our deepest gratitude for all their efforts.”

Elite line-up to be headlined by India’s best:This year’s run will also showcase some of India’s premier running talents including the current course record holder, Suresh Kumar (29.49 secs in 2015), who has won the prestigious title thrice and finished with the Silver Medal in the 2016 edition of the run. Suresh also enters the line-up with Silver Medals from the 10,000m and 5,000m events at the SAF Games in 2017. His main challengers include, Bugatha Srinu, who made the podium in his debut appearance at the TATA Mumbai Marathon 2018; local hero, Belliappa A.B ; Podium finisher at the TATA Mumbai Half Marathon 2018, Shankar Man Thappa and others that include Podium finisher at the Mumbai Marathon 2017, Sachin Patil, Karan Singh, and Govind Singh.

The Indian women’s elite field will be headlined by the defending champion of the TCS World 10K Saigeetha Naik (36.01 seconds), with challenges from 2012 TCS World 10K Champion and the female half-marathon champion at the 2018 Guwahati Half Marathon, Monika Athare; Bronze Medal winner in the 5,000m run at the Asian Track & Field Championship, Sanjivani Jadhav. Additionally, Lalita Babar, the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic finals in 32 years and placed 10th in Rio as well as seasoned runner and Swati Gadhave, who has represented India’s elite athletes all over the world will be looking to make a comeback this year. Rajkot half-marathon winner Manju Yadav, whose spunk and surprises won her the half-marathon in Rajkot last year, along with Minakshi Patil and Dimple Singh, will make the race dynamic and fast-paced.

In-Stadia experience  Providing an incomparable race experience for all the amateur runners, apart from the  warm-up and recovery zones, this year’s elite runs are scheduled to commence post a significant time-gap from the amateur start times, allowing runners to complete their personal runs and return to the stadium to catch the World Champions chart new course records. This scheduling, implemented from 2017, has proved to be one of the most exciting moments of the TCS World 10K experience, with the whole stadium cheering on the World’s best athletes to photo-finishes.This year, Thaikkudam Bridge, reputed for their expression of the social, political and cultural regime will perform adding to the festivities in-stadia.

 The TCS World 10K on a green path  We continue our efforts to be a 100% waste managed event. A 6-member committee, co-chaired by N.S. Ramakanth & Ramprasad Viswanathan, Co-Founder – Friends of Lakes, Bengaluru along with members from CSOs (Swabhimaan & India Cares Foundation) and the running community. The committee has directed initiatives and processes to ensure adequate housekeeping including segregation at source and waste management of the event. All the Bio degradable & non-bio degradable waste like Plastic, Tetrapak would be recycled and managed till the last mile. The on-ground and course waste management will be handled by Hasiru Dala Innovations.

The use of alternate products and materials will also be encouraged at this year’s run. Plastic is being avoided to the feasible extent possible for eg: the participant’s running number bibs will be distributed without any packaging and the medals will be handed out in fabric pouches. All food waste will be sent to the piggery and unutilized food & fruits will be distributed via Swabhimaan. The Green Team will identify and sort the dry waste into different grades and sell it to respective category-focused recycling supply chain management systems. All flex and branding material used during the Event will be transported to the CSO Swabhimaan at their workstation in Ejipura, which will then be converted to slum shelters and covers for crops, that are used by farmers in Kanakpura.

Urban Forest at Madiwala Lake  In 2011, Procam International took on the challenge of converting the barren land along the periphery of Madiwala Lake in Bengaluru to green and lush urban forest. Around 2.25 acres of space was slotted for afforestation by the Madiwala Lake and Tank Foundation, a committee under the Karnataka State Forest Department, Government of Karnataka.

Named “The World 10K Urban Forest” the land was used to plant and nurture saplings that could be planted across the Madivala Lake area. All the saplings planted have now blossomed into fully grown trees, some of which are fruit-bearing. Additionally, there are hundreds of plants that are cultivated in the nursery and then planted in and around the area. The entire stretch, once barren, now has substantial greenery and has become a frequently visited public space for the locals. The area also boasts a butterfly park with an impressive 45 different species of butterflies documented.

Cubbon Park Rejuvenation Project:The project, a first of its kind, in revival and water conservation in the country, enabled by India Cares Foundation, Friends of Lakes & Biome and under the aegis of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, has completed Phase 1 by providing a minimum of 65,000 Litres of Water, every day, for Cubbon Park.  Conceived by Vishwanath S, popularly known as the Zen Rainman of Biome Environmental Solutions & Ramprasad Vishwanathan, Founder Convener of Friends of Lakes, the project involved working with indigenous communities of well diggers from Karnataka and re-vitalizing the 7 existing wells of Cubbon Park. Post the de-silting & cleaning of the wells, 6 of these wells were interconnected using pipes (made from recycled plastic) and electric motors now providing 75% of the water supply as needed by the Horticulture Department in Cubbon Park.

The second phase of the CPR would see the 2 water bodies inside Cubbon Park being revived. During the coming months, there will be intense cleaning, repairs and construction of silt traps. Taking advantage of the rains this year, the project looks at strengthening bunds as well as making sure there is optimal collection of rainwater in the lakes. Additionally rain water re-charge wells are being planned to ensure the required water security of the 200 acre Park for many more decades. The team will identify and study existing pathways to the Kalyanis and dig rain water wells with the help of 12-15 traditional well diggers from the Manu Vadar community, with the aim to finish the project in 2019.

The run has also taken the Cubbon Park Rejuvenation Program further by giving everyone the chance to contribute towards the project to safeguard Bengaluru’s lung space, the total project cost, of all phases, is INR 95 lakh. Donations can be given in at: http://icfn.in/tcsworld10k/CPR/

Godrej Properties powers Mirchi Get Active Expo:Set to take place at the Elaan Convention Centre in JP Nagar, the Godrej Properties powered Mirchi Get Active Expo on the 24^th, 25th & 26^th of May will be a haven for runners and fitness enthusiasts alike. In addition to CPR Training and sessions by fitness experts, the expo will also debut a flea market and have a program run by stand-up comedian Sanjay Manaktala. Participating runners will also be able to collect their running bibs during the expo between 10.30 am and 5.00 pm on the dates.