Joshua Cheptegei among elite names eyeing Ksh18 million prize purse in Kolkata 25K

A star-studded field of elite runners and thousands of mass participants will descend on the City of Joy on Sunday, 21 December, as the 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K takes centre stage in Kolkata, India.

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At the heart of the excitement is Uganda’s distance running icon Joshua Cheptegei, one of the headline names chasing honours and a share of the lucrative prize purse.

More than 23,000 runners from across the globe are expected to take part in the event. The organisers have announced a $25,000 bonus (approximately Ksh3.23 million) for any athlete who breaks the current world record of 1:11:08 over the 25km distance. This move could add a historic chapter to the race’s legacy.

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This year’s prize purse stands at $142,214 (about Ksh18.38 million), cementing the race as one of the most financially rewarding road-running competitions of the season.

Winners in both the men’s and women’s categories will claim $15,000 (about Ksh1.94 million), with $10,000 (approximately Ksh1.29 million) and $7,000 (around Ksh905,000) reserved for second and third place, respectively. A further $5,000 (about Ksh646,000) is up for grabs for setting a new event record.

Cheptegei, 29, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion over 10,000m, will be making his debut over the 25km distance.

The Ugandan arrives in fine form, having won last year’s Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and this year’s TCS World 10K Bengaluru.

The celebrated runner could not contain his excitement to compete in India.

“India is one of my favourite destinations. I want to give my best in my maiden venture in Kolkata,” he said.

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Over the past decade, Kolkata has built a reputation for producing fast times and standout performances. In 2022, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo clocked 1:11:13 to set the men’s world record, while Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede delivered a 1:18:47 finish to rewrite the women’s global mark.

Although Ebenyo is not expected to return this year, Kenya will be represented by Collins Kipkorir, the 2024 Barcelona Marathon runner-up, who will be keen to challenge Cheptegei.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, fresh from his thrilling victory at the World Championships marathon in Tokyo in September, is another strong contender expected to push Cheptegei hard.

Ethiopia’s Haymanot Alew, who narrowly missed the podium in Kolkata last year before finishing third in the 2024 Berlin Marathon in 2:03:31, and Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, runner-up at this year’s Xiamen Marathon, further deepen the competition in the men’s field.

The women’s race is equally stacked, with Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede gearing up for her third appearance in Kolkata.

Asefa, who broke the 25K world record in Berlin in 2015 and reset it in Kolkata in 2023, is targeting a memorable hat-trick. She will face strong competition from compatriot Degitu Azimeraw, the 2017 champion, alongside Ugandan Olympic finalist Sarah Chelangat, winner of the 2024 TCS World 10K Bengaluru, and Kenya’s Agnes Keino.

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Asefa arrives in Kolkata after a mixed season, having claimed victory at the Tokyo Marathon before finishing 27th at the World Championships on the same course. The race offers her a valuable chance to close the year on a high and reaffirm her dominance over the distance.