Lilian Kasait and Peter Mwaniki reign supreme at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024

Kiran Matre shatters the event record, while Sanjivani Jadhav logs another dominant performance winning a hattrick of titles ~

Bengaluru, 28 April 2024: In yet another resounding victory for Kenyan runners, Peter Mwaniki clinched the men’s title while Lilian Kasait bagged the women’s title in the 16th edition of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru on Sunday.

The contest between the Indian elite athletes saw a stellar performance from Kiran Matre who ran a gritty race to clinch the first position and break the event record with a timing of 29:32. Testament to the run’s aggressive nature, all the top four runners finished ahead of the event record of 29.49 which was previously held by Suresh Kumar created in 2015. Meanwhile, Sanjivani dominated the Indian women’s lineup to set herself up for a comfortable first-place finish.

As winners of the prestigious USD 210,000 World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, Peter Mwaniki and Lilian Kasait took home an equal prize cheque of USD 26,000 each. In the Indian elite category, Kiran Matre and Sanjivani Jadhav bagged the grand cash purse of INR 2,75,000 each. Additionally, Kiran Matre also secured a bonus of INR 1,00,000 for breaking the event record.

Mwaniki, who came into the race as a hot favourite, got off to a conservative start. At the 7.5km mark, he was level pegging with his Kenyan peer Hillary Chepkwony. However, Mwaniki surged forward in the final stretch to finish comfortably with a timing of 28:15, while Hillary Chepkwony (28:33) finished behind him. Also logging a resounding performance was 17-year-old debutant Hagos Eyob who clocked an impressive 28:39 to finish third.

The international elite women’s race took shape early in the run as the world’s second-fastest 10K runner, Emmaculate Achol looked to lead the pack from the get-go. Following the 7.1 Km mark, Lilian Kasait seized the opportunity to power ahead of Achol, with Irene Chaptai’s event record of (30:35) in danger.
However, Lilian Kasait finished her run just short of the event record, clocking 30:56. Meanwhile, Emmaculate Achol (31:17) and Lemlem Hailu (31:23) finished second and third respectively.

Speaking of her triumph, Lilian Kasait said, “It was a very aggressive race, we were fast from the beginning. Emmaculate was really pushing us all, I just tried to keep up with her. At the 7km mark, I felt I could push myself and decided to go for it.”Kasait, however, lamented narrowly missing the event record. She said, “I feel I could have broken the course record today. At the end of the race, I felt I still had a lot of energy in me.”

The race for the Indian elite men saw the top four positions finish ahead of the previous course record. In an evenly-fought contest, Kiran Matre breached the finish line while clocking his personal best of 29:32. In close pursuit were Ranjeet Kumar Patel (29:35) and Dharmendra (29:45) who completed the podium.
The troika of Kiran Matre, Ranjeet Kumar Patel and Dharmendra showed tremendous improvement in their timings from the previous edition of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru where they had finished 12th, 9th and 10th respectively.
Following the win, Kiran Matre opined, “Between the 4th and 8th kilometre, I found the run quite challenging, so I’m very pleased with the result. Last year I finished 12th, so this victory is very satisfying. I hope to use this momentum to prepare for the Paris Olympics and try to break the 28-minute mark.”
Meanwhile, event record holder Sanjivani dominated the line up in the women’s category to complete her third victory at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. Much like the international women’s contest, the Indian women’s run saw an early push in by Sonam 36:27). Sanjivani eventually broke through in pursuit of another event record, though she fell short with a timing of 34:03. She was closely followed by Lilli Das (34:13) who finished second while Preenu Yadav finished third at 34:24.

Reflecting on her victory, Sanjivani Jadhav remarked, “I am very happy with the victory, this is my hattrick! I started the race keeping the record in mind. I looked to push early on and even tried keeping up with the international elite athletes and did so for almost 2km.”
She further added, “I have been training very hard and my expectation was to break the record, so I am a little disappointed I didn’t manage to do that. I think the final stretch was uphill and along with the heat, it made the finish a challenging one.”

TCS World 10K: Participants give the new route a big thumbs up

_~ NS Dattatreya becomes the oldest participant at 96 to complete the open 10K; record number of participants complete open 10K including top brass in Indian Army and Karnataka Police ~

Bengaluru, 28th April 2024: The iconic Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade ground was bustling with energy in the wee hours of Sunday morning with nearly 28,600 enthusiastic runners making a beeline at the flag-off for the milestone 16th edition TCS World 10K Bengaluru.

The sheer participation marked a jubilant tribute to diversity, inclusivity, and the resilient human spirit in a race that saw a new route being embraced by amateur and seasoned elite runners. Showcasing the city’s emphasis on health and wellbeing, a record 18,433 runners took part in the open 10K category including General Rajinder Dewan, Maj General Ravi Murugan, Lt General Dr Pradeep C Nair, Additional DG, Karnataka Police S Ravi and IGP Sandeep Patil. The event’s oldest participant at 96 years, NS Dattatreya completed the race inspiring a new generation of amateur runners. “This new route was quite lovely. Going past landmarks such as the Ulsoor Lake brought back memories of Bengaluru from the good old days. While the route was different, the sprightly atmosphere of Bengaluru was the same. Both my son and myself were very happy with how the whole event was organized. It always makes us want to come back and experience it all over again,” expressed an elated Dattatreya after completing the race.

The 5km Majja Run witnessed 9932 participants and the Silvers’ Run for senior citizens saw 1318 participants, 513 participants in the champions with disability soaked up the summer sun to create a personal milestone.

Prominent personalities including Thawar Chand Gehlot, the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka, Dr. G Parameshwara, the Hon’ble Home Minister of Karnataka, Additional CS, Govt of Karnataka N Manjunatha Prasad, Lt General Basant Kumar Repswal, former International athletes Anju Bobby George, Ashwini Nachappa graced the event, underscoring the unparallelled support the event has garnered from the Government of Karnataka and other authorities responsible in making the race a mega success.

The TCS World 10K continued to transcend the city’s physical limits as nearly 1,600 participants from around the globe joined in virtually.

Embracing community and festive spirit

Gathering at the Rajendra Singhji Army Officers Institute Cricket Ground as early as 4 am, participants embodied the essence of Bengaluru as they jogged past iconic landmarks like Vidhana Soudha and Ulsoor Lake after commencing their run from the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground, immersing themselves in the dynamic culture and historical legacy of the city.

M Chetan Appaiah (34), a Business Operations Excellence Manager and keen fitness enthusiast, making his sixth appearance in the TCS World 10K Bengaluru said, “The route was quite enjoyable. There were slopes which meant we’d have to run stretches uphill as well as downhill, adding a challenge to the run. Apart from its competitive dimension, the TCS World 10K encapsulates the spirit of unity and camaraderie. Post run, the celebratory ambiance provided an opportunity to exchange our experience with fellow participants and forged new bonds. It stood as proof of sports’ ability to unite individuals, dissolve boundaries, and instill a feeling of belonging.”

Harry Martin, a 33-year-old from the United Kingdom who works as a Sports Science teacher in a school in Bengaluru, participated in the Open 10K for the third time. Echoing his sentiments, he said, “I loved this run. Bengaluru is a beautiful city and having the opportunity to run around iconic landmarks was truly a wonderful experience. Furthermore, there was great energy among all the participants adding to the phenomenal atmosphere. It was really well organized and I look forward to coming back again next year.”

Igniting the spirit of inclusivity and promoting positive transformation through generosity

Providing equal opportunity through the Champions with Disabilities Run and the Silvers’ Run for the senior citizens, the TCS World 10K showcased a firm dedication to inclusivity. This varied array of categories ensured that individuals of every age, capability, and background had equal chances to engage in the event and enjoy the new course firsthand while showcasing the true power of the human spirit. It provided an experience that the participants would remember for a long time.

The TCS World 10K also acted as a catalyst for philanthropy. Through its association with numerous charitable causes, participants were given the chance to run with a purpose and support various social initiatives. The celebratory environment offered a stage to blend merriment with a greater mission, generating a positive influence through heightened awareness. The 16-year-old Adya Kote, youngest fundraiser from the Right to Live (Kote Foundation), who has raised INR 30 Lakhs, shared, “I think the TCS World 10K Bengaluru is an opportunity for people of my generation to challenge stereotypes about our attitude towards giving back to the community. A significant amount of the funds I’m raising will be dedicated to building washrooms and other basic facilities in government schools across Karnataka.”