Kolkata, a city celebrated for its food, culture, and cricket, was never synonymous with running. A decade ago, the sight of a dedicated long-distance runner was rare, and organized races struggled to attract participants. Today, the scene is dramatically different, thanks to a single transformative event.
From Humble Beginnings to a Running Spectacle
In the early 2010s, a major race in Kolkata might see only a handful of runners at the start line for a 25km event and perhaps double that for a 10km. Despite the low turnout, organizers were committed to quality, offering closed roads, certified routes past landmarks, and proper support for athletes.
The turning point arrived in December 2014 with the inaugural Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata. Fast forward to a crisp December morning in 2023, the 10th edition of this home race presented a sight unimaginable years prior. The atmosphere was electric, a far cry from the quiet gatherings of the past.
This year, a staggering 23,000 people participated. Over 6,600 runners tackled the 25km race, while more than 7,800 ran the 10km. Significantly, nearly 9,000 runners traveled from across India to join 13,665 local residents, showcasing the event's national appeal.
Elite Performance and a Narrowing Gap for India
The race was not just a celebration of participation but also of elite athleticism. The men's 25km elite race was won by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, the double Olympic champion and world record holder, with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 49 seconds.
Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu secured second place, just seven seconds behind, and Lesotho's Tebello Ramakingoana took third at 1:11:59. The standout performance for India came from Gulveer Singh, the national record holder, who finished as the fastest Indian with a time of 1:12:06.
Gulveer was a mere seventeen seconds behind the world champion, Cheptegei, and only seven seconds behind the third-place finisher. This narrowing gap signals promising progress for Indian distance running on the global stage.
A City Transformed: Cheers Replace Sneers
The most profound change, however, was visible on the streets themselves. Local residents lined the route to cheer, a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic era when runners often faced mockery. The city's iconic landmarks—from the Eden Gardens stadium start line to Fort William and the Victoria Memorial—were experienced in a new, peaceful way, free from the constant threat of traffic.
Runners shared the vast Maidan grounds with hundreds of concurrent football and cricket games, painting a picture of a city fully embracing an active lifestyle. The event has firmly planted itself in Kolkata's identity, proving that the City of Joy has wholeheartedly become a city for runners.
