Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon envelops the Indian capital!
PUMA launches exclusive Race Day Tee & Finisher Tee with Boxing champ & Brand Ambassador MC Mary Kom
Indian elites headlined by record-breaking Avinash Sable & Sanjivani Jadhav
New Delhi, October 7, 2022: Excitement and anticipation around the world’s prestigious 17th Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is steadily building to a crescendo as the much-loved running festival will celebrate the different hues of the capital city. #RangDeDilli
The USD 268,000 prize money World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, to be flagged off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday, October 16, will see tens of thousands of amateurs join the world’s best elites in a race that has stood as a pinnacle of sporting glory.
INDIAN ELITE CONTINGENT: A thrilling Indian line-up will be spearheaded by Avinash Sable, who returns to the venue of his heroics in the 2020 edition that saw him become the first Indian to complete the half marathon in under 61 minutes — finishing in a sensational 60:30 for the Indian crown and 10th place overall.
The Indian elite category will also see Abhishek Pal, winner of the 2018 edition. He is part of the Elite Distance Running Program driven by Procam International and was also the winner of the TCS World 10K this year in the Indian elite category. Not just that, Pal was newly crowned champion in 5,000m with a time of 14:07.25 and clinched the Silver medal in 10,000m with a time of 28:54.98 at the ongoing National Games in Gujarat.
The Indian women’s field will be headed by Sanjivani Jadhav, a former champion as well as the 2020 edition’s silver medallist. Sanjivani, who won 10,000 m gold at the 2022 Federation Cup athletics, will be challenged by Monika Athare, also a former champion.
The Indian elite winners in the men’s and women’s categories will take home INR 350,000 each and the prize fund includes the top 10 finishers in both. There is also a bonus of Rs 100,000 for a new course record and a similar prize amount as the jackpot.
Strengthening the association with a unique initiative, title sponsor Vedanta Limited has pledged one million meals for its #RunForZeroHunger campaign during the race. For every kilometre run, the Indian conglomerate will provide a nutritious meal to a child in need through its flagship social impact initiative — the Nand Ghar project.
Spearheading the initiative, Mrs. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director at Vedanta Limited said, “The Vedanta Family is all geared up to #RunForZeroHunger and can feel the city buzzing with excitement. With the marathon around the corner, I urge everyone to participate in full fervour and come together not just to run for themselves, but to run for zero hunger.”
Naarayan TV, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC FIRST Bank, said, “As Associate Sponsor, IDFC FIRST Bank is rolling out this exciting initiative that will add to the incredible levels of enthusiasm and energy during the Delhi run. As part of this, we are happy to launch the IDFC FIRST Bank Runners Pledge which will inspire a movement of giving back to society. The initiative aligns with the Bank’s philosophy of being a force for social good. As a participative sport that’s rooted in the spirit of bettering oneself, we believe that by rewarding participants, there’s an additional reason to run and thereby support a cause.”
“Under the Pledge, the Bank commits to deposit funds into the eligible participant’s bank account, commensurate with the distance covered and finishing time. Finishers in turn may choose to support a social cause of their choice or make a beginning towards something that matters to them. For many, this will mark a #JourneytotheStart of helping the lesser privileged.”
IDFC FIRST Bank has committed Rs. 2100 to every participant who completes the half marathon within 1 hour and 55 minutes and Rs. 1000 for every participant who completes the 10k run within 55 minutes. The funds will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of qualifying participants, thus enabling them to contribute towards causes that are dear to them or endeavours that they believe in.
Every participant who qualifies, will not only experience the joy of running but will also be empowered to support the lesser privileged of society. The Runners Pledge is IDFC FIRST Bank’s newest effort towards maximising social good, which is one of the founding pillars of the bank. It is not only demonstrated through its diverse social responsibility programs but is also deeply rooted in the way it conducts its business.
EXCLUSIVE PUMA RACE DAY & FINISHER TEE: The Fastest Sports Brand in the World, PUMA has been a long-standing partner of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and will present all the registered half marathon participants with an exclusive Race Day Tee.
In addition to this, as a token of appreciation and the effort put in by the 10K runners, PUMA will give the overall top 500 men and 500 women runners a specially curated Finisher Tee.
The Race Day Tee was unveiled by PUMA athlete and six-time boxing world champion MC Mary Kom earlier today.
Commenting on the occasion, Mary Kom said, “It makes me proud to unveil the PUMA Race Day Tee for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The high-performance jersey is comfortable and will effectively support the runners during the race. I see a lot of positive change towards sports and fitness, especially running as a trend. It is wonderful to see PUMA rallying for sports and fitness culture across disciplines such as boxing, cricket, table tennis, hockey and running. I wish the runners of Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon all the best. Enjoy this race with passion and fun.”
MIRCHI GET ACTIVE RACE EXPO is a one-stop destination to discover the latest in the world of distance running. The three-day Expo will take place at the NSCI, Okhla from Thursday, October 13, to Saturday, October 15. The Expo will be open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday and between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm on Saturday.
All registered participants will require to visit the Expo to collect their running bibs and can also avail of exciting offers from leading sports & lifestyle brands. The runners will also get an opportunity to meet and interact with distance running great and the race’s International Event Ambassador Haile Gebrselassie.
For the first time ever, limited on-the-spot registrations will be available at the Expo to encourage and allow for more runners to be a part of the celebration.
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon will be telecast live by Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD and Sony Liv on October 16 from 6:30 am to 10:30 am.
Vivek Singh, Jt. MD, Procam International, said: “The wait is finally over, the much-loved Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is back in all its glory to inspire the people of Delhi and India and encourage social transformation for a better tomorrow. With the support from all our sponsors and partners, we have left no stone unturned to create a magical experience for our running community. See you all on race day!”
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