{"id":8736,"date":"2018-01-20T17:02:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T17:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/faceinews.com\/?p=8736"},"modified":"2018-01-20T17:02:07","modified_gmt":"2018-01-20T17:02:07","slug":"could-the-tata-mumbai-marathon-2018-set-new-standards-for-the-classic-distance-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/?p=8736","title":{"rendered":"Could the TATA Mumbai Marathon 2018 set new standards for the classic distance in India?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pic<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Faceinews<\/a><\/p>\n

The leading men\u2019s contenders attending Friday\u2019s elite athletes press conference for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018 were unanimous in their prediction ahead of\u00a0Sunday\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0big event, it could be the fastest ever race over the classic distance ever witnessed in India.<\/p>\n

The current course record is\u00a02:08:35<\/span>, set by Kenya\u2019s Gideon Kipketer in 2016, and that also stands as an Indian all-comers record. However, with seven men in the field having career bests faster than that time and with race promoters Procam International having also assembled the strongest ever field in the history of one of Asia\u2019s most prestigious marathons, that standard is clearly under threat.<\/p>\n

\"Pic<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in very good shape and I think I can run as fast as\u00a02:06<\/span>. A course record is possible, but I also want a personal best,\u201d said Ethiopia\u2019s Solomon Dekisa, the fastest man in the field.<\/p>\n

Deksisa, 23, can boast of a best of\u00a02:06:22<\/span>\u00a0from when finishing second at the 2016 Rotterdam Marathon and he\u2019s been in hard training for\u00a0Sunday\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0race since he finished third in the Toronto Marathon last October.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had the option of several other marathons, but I chose this race after discussing what I should do with my coach,\u201d he added, attesting to the Tata Mumbai Mumbai\u2019s ever-growing reputation among the world\u2019s leading distance runner.<\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s Joshua Kipkorir was second in last year\u2019s race and, unperturbed by the presence of Deksisa and the other top runners, is determined to go one better\u00a0on Sunday<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Kipkorir set a personal best of\u00a02:09:50<\/span>\u00a0in last year\u2019s race but despite the relatively modest time by elite standards, he certainly has a very good chance of climbing to the top of the podium.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ran\u00a02:13<\/span>\u00a0at altitude for a marathon in Nairobi in November and that was simple, it felt no harder than a long training run. I think\u00a02:06<\/span>\u00a0is possible\u00a0on Sunday<\/span>\u00a0and people tell me the race could be hot, but that doesn\u2019t worry me,\u201d said the ambitious Kipkorir.<\/p>\n

His compatriot Evans Ruto, the 2014 winner in Mumbai, concurred on the question of the winning time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel I\u2019m in good enough shape to regain my title and it might take a course record to do that,\u201d commented Ruto.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s course record of\u00a02:24:33<\/span>, also an Indian all-comers record, on paper looks like being a tougher target but a big boast for the race promoters came when they signed up the last two Tata Mumbai Marathon winners and Kenya\u2019s defending champion Bornes Kitur will take on Ethiopia\u2019s 2016 winner Shuko Genemo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in better shape than last year. I cannot say how much better, maybe just a little, but definitely better,\u201d said the quietly-spoken Kitur.<\/p>\n

The more gregarious Genemo was more expansive in her analysis and it is worth noting that she had a 2017 best of\u00a02:26:06<\/span>\u00a0at the Vienna Marathon and ran under\u00a02:29:00<\/span>\u00a0in her other two marathons last year,<\/p>\n

\u201cMy preparation has been going well and I think my experience of running here two years ago will certainly be an advantage. In 2016, it was windy but not so hot as I expected and that was a big help,\u201d added Genemo, who won by more than four minutes from Kitur in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, of course I would like to win and that\u2019s what I am aiming for but if I do get a victory, I doubt it will be by more than four minutes. One of the reasons is that my friend Amane [Gobena] is here,\u201d joked Genemo, turning to face the fastest woman in the women\u2019s race, her fellow Ethiopian Amane Gobena.<\/p>\n

Now 35, Gobena ran her personal best of\u00a02:21:51<\/span>\u00a0when finishing second in the 2016 Tokyo Marathon and returned to the famous race in the Japanese capital last February where she finished third in 2:23.09.<\/p>\n

However, she did not race at all in the second half of last year and has arrived in Mumbai with fresh legs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told there was a chance I could go to the World Championships in London but when I was not selected I was so disappointed that I stopped training completely for two months before starting training again,\u201d said Gobena. \u201cBut it means I am not tired now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, has a total prize fund of US$405,000 this year, with cheques of $42,000 going to the first man and woman across the line.<\/p>\n

Approximately 44,000 runners will take to the roads in Mumbai for the six different races in what has become an annual event in the city on the third\u00a0Sunday<\/span>\u00a0of January.<\/p>\n

In addition to the marathon, there is a half marathon, Dream Run (6km), Senior Citizens Race (4.3km), a Champions with Disability Race (1.5km) and, a new race in 2018, the Timed 10K run.<\/p>\n

MALE ELITE ATHLETES (with nationality, year of birth and personal best \u2013 correct at 19 January)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solomon Deksisa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1994\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:06:22<\/span>
\nChele Dechasa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:06:33<\/span>
\nShumi Dechasa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BRN\/1989\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:06:43<\/span>
\nAbraham Girma\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1986\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:06:48<\/span>
\nTebalu Zawude\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1987\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:07:10<\/span>
\nEvans Ruto\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:07:49<\/span>
\nPhilip Kangogo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1983\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:08:16<\/span>
\nSamuel Mwaniki\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:08:56<\/span>
\nAychew Bantie\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:09:40<\/span>
\nJoshua Kipkorir\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1994\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:09:50<\/span>
\nEliud Barngetuny\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1987\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:10:23<\/span>
\nVincent Kipchumba\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1990\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:10:32<\/span>
\nJeffrey\u00a0 Eggleston\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 USA\/1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:10:52<\/span>
\nShumet Akalnaw\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1988\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:13:18<\/span>
\nHusen Muhammedamin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1993\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:14:19<\/span><\/p>\n

FEMALE ELITE ATHLETES<\/strong>
\nBornes Kitur\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1988\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:29:01<\/span>\u00a0(defending champion)<\/p>\n

Amane Gobena\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1982\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:21:51<\/span><\/p>\n

Shuko Genemo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:24:31<\/span><\/p>\n

Helalia Johannes\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NAM\/1980\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:26:09<\/span><\/p>\n

Monika Stefanowicz\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0POL\/1980\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:28:26<\/span><\/p>\n

Kumeshi Sichala\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:28:42<\/span><\/p>\n

Afera Godfay\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1991\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:28:46<\/span><\/p>\n

Kuftu Tahir\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:31:27<\/span><\/p>\n

Tejitu Daba\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BRN\/1991\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:31:32<\/span><\/p>\n

Rose Maru\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\/1987\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:33:05<\/span><\/p>\n

Birke Debele\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\/1995\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02:40:48<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

* For more information about the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018, the website of the event is:<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/tatamumbaimarathon.procamrunning.in\/<\/a><\/p>\n

* Other links
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/twitter.com\/tatamummarathon<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TataMumMarathon\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tatamummarathon\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/procamrunning<\/a><\/p>\n

Media contact: Neha Kandalgaonkar (Head \u2013 Media &\u00a0\u00a0Public Relations, Procam International)\u00a0<\/strong>neha@procam.in<\/a>\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0 Tel: +91 22 2202 0284 \/ Fax: +91 22 2202 5112 \/ Mob: +91 9892194965<\/strong><\/p>\n

The attached image is free-to-use for editorial purposes and has unrestricted media rights but please credit\u00a0Procam International<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tata in Sports<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tata group,<\/strong>\u00a0a global enterprise with combined revenues of around US$100 billion, along with\u00a0Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)<\/strong>, one of the world\u2019s leading\u00a0IT services<\/a>,\u00a0consulting<\/a>\u00a0and business solutions organisations, are the title sponsor of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.<\/p>\n

Sport has always been an integral part of Tata for over 75 years. Tata\u2019s association with multiple sports ranging from cricket, football, hockey, badminton, chess, athletics, mountaineering and motor racing, among others, has produced many award-winning sportspersons, helped the development of marginal communities and supported sporting teams, national and international events as well as training academies. The Tata Sports Club was set up in 1937 to encourage sports among its employee base across the country.<\/p>\n

TCS is the sponsor of many premier global marathons across the world like the TCS New York City Marathon, the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, and the TCS Lidingloppet (the world\u2019s largest cross-country run), and the technology partner of the marathons held in London, Chicago, and Boston \u2014 all part of the company\u2019s effort to promote health and fitness in the communities, the world over.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The leading men\u2019s contenders attending Friday\u2019s elite athletes press conference for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018 were unanimous in their prediction ahead of\u00a0Sunday\u2019s\u00a0big event, it could be the fastest ever race over the classic distance ever witnessed in India. The current course record is\u00a02:08:35, set by Kenya\u2019s Gideon Kipketer in 2016, and that also stands […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8739,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8736\/revisions\/8739"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}