Ebenyo and Kebede clocked World Bests for stand-alone 25K – Tata Steel Kolkata 25K/India

Kolkata, December 17: World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, today
created history yet again with Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and Ethiopian Sutume Asefa Kebede
smashing the event records in the men’s and women’s categories as they set up a blistering pace
to finish with a timing of 1.11:13 and 1.18:47 respectively.

Incidentally, the winning timings turned out to be the “World Bests” for a stand-alone 25K race!
Although the 25K is not a listed distance for the official world records at present, the earlier world
bests for the stand-alone 25K race were 1:11:18 by Dennis Kimetto (2012) and 1:19:53 by Mary
Jepkosgei Keitany (2010), both from Kenya.

The event record of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K in the Men’s category stood in the name of Kenya’s
Leonard Barsoton with a timing of 1:12:49 while the Women’s record was in the name of Bahrain’s
Desi Jisa with a timing of 1:21:04.

With today’s win, Ebenyo and Kebede took home a winner’s cheque of $7500 plus a bonus of
USD 3000 each in the US $100,000 prize money race.

Finishing behind Ebenyo, Victor Kipruto Togom (Kenya) in the second spot also bettered the
previous event record with 1:12:26 followed by Ethopia’s Tesfaye Demeke (1:13:36) in the third
spot.

It was a nail-biting race between the two men’s International runners Ebenyo and Togom.
The two set the pace from the word go and together went neck-to-neck.
Ebenyo, who earlier this year secured two significant silver medals from Budapest Worlds
(10,000m) and the World Half-Marathon championships in Riga, led the field on most occasions
clocking 43:01 after crossing 15K.

Although Togom tried to overtake him during that stage, Ebenyo did not allow it to happen and
increased his pace after 19K (59:12) and broke away from Togom to run a solo race thereafter.
For information, Ebenyo’s country-mate, the legendary Eliud Kipchoge, was officially timed
1:11:08 at 25K en route to his victory in the Berlin Marathon last year where he set a world record
for marathon (2:01:09).

Speaking after the win, an emotional Ebenyo said, “With God’s grace I was able to do something
special here to break the course record. I thank the authorities for inviting me here. I dedicate this
win to my girlfriend, whose support and encouragement helped me reach where I am today.”
Kebede pushed Yehualaw to the second spot in the women’s race

 

Sutume Asefa Kebede winning Tata Steel Kolkata 25K – Photo: Procam International

Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw (24), the half-marathon world championships bronze medalist in
2020, made her debut at 25K in Kolkata and was tipped off to win here as a pre-race prediction.
However, her teammate Sutume Asefa Kebede had other plans in her mind. Kebede, who turned
29 recently, did not have any significant victories on the global stage like Yehualaw. Kebede
etched her name as a victor in the Big-25 at Berlin eight years ago clocking 1:21:55, a time
regarded as one of the best at that time.

Running only on her second race at this distance, Kebede remained in the lead together with her
compatriot until the waning stages of the race and applied pressure at the last kilometre to win in
1:18:47. Yehualaw (1:19:26) and Kenya’s Betty Chepkemoi Kibet (1:21:43) finished behind her.
It was the fourth fastest time by women runners at this distance although the three women who
achieved better timings before her did it en route to a marathon.

Thrilled after smashing the course record, Kebede said, “I wanted to run faster, but in the end, I
am happy with my timing. It is a good course with good weather conditions which made it easier
for me.”

Following are the provisional results:

Overall International Men:
Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) 1:11:13 (NEW EVENT RECORD)
Victor Kipruto Togom (Kenya) 1:12:26
Tesfaye Demeke (Ethiopia) 1:13:36
Haymanot Alew (Ethiopia) 1:13:44
ABE Gashahun (Ethiopia) 1:13:51
Bennard Biwott (Kenya) 1:13:57
Jackson Kipleting (Kenya) 1:15:44
Sawan Barwal (India) 1:17:49
Gaurav Mathur (India) 1:20:33
Genetu Molalign (Ethiopia) 1:31:39.

Overall International Women:
Sutume Asefa Kebede (Ethiopia) 1:18:47 (NEW EVENT RECORD)
Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) 1:19:26
Betty Chepkemoi Kibet (Kenya) 1:21:43
Emebet Niguse (Ethiopia) 1:22:43
Nelly Jeptoo (Kenya) 1:23:00
Anchinalu Dessie (Ethiopia) 1:23:18
Mecyline Chelangat (Uganda) 1:25:37
Tsige Haileslase (Ethiopia) 1:28:37
Reshma Kevate (India) 1:30:38
Seema (India) 1:32:07

Indian Men:
Sawan Barwal 1:17:49
Gaurav Mathur 1:20:33
M D Aseem 1:42:08.

Indian Women:
Reshma Kevate 1:30:38
Seema 1:32:07
Nirmaben Thakor Bharatjee 1:32:40
Tamsi Singh 1:35:33
Sanghamitra Mahata 1:35:54
Shyamali Singh 1:38:27
Phoolan Pal 1:40:09
Ekta Rawat 1:47:49

For more details, please contact
Procam International:
Neha Kandalgaonkar / Deepak Pilankar
neha@procam.in/ deepak@procam.in
Carpe Diem Communique Pvt. Ltd
Dolon Dasbhaumik 9874272071 /Moumita Biswas 8777866266

For more information about the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, log on
to: tatasteelkolkata25k.procam.in/
https://www.facebook.com/TSKolkata25

https://www.instagram.com/tskolkata25/

ABOUT TATA STEEL
Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 35
million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with
operations and commercial presence across the world and an employee base of over 77,000. The
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While sport has served as a unique link between Tata Steel’s businesses and the community, its role
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international levels, the Company has continually been proactively fostering a culture of fitness
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Being a trademark event, Tata Steel Kolkata 25K 2023 always inspires to go the distance, in terms of
a social cause as well as health and wellbeing. The event has transcended sport in the East of India
and has given the professional and amateur distance runners, a platform to compete, shine and qualify
to participate in other accredited races.

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Introduction: IDFC FIRST Bank’s vision is to build a world-class bank in India that’s guided by ethics,
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ABOUT PROCAM INTERNATIONAL
Since its inception in 1988, Procam International has been the driving force behind the growth and
development of sports management in India. Founded by Anil and Vivek Singh, Procam is India’s
premier sports management company and is involved in live events, sports consultancy, and live
television production.

With astute planning and exemplary execution, Procam has a track record of conceptualising and
promoting over 100 international events, across the disciplines of Powerboat Racing, Cricket, Football,
Tennis, Distance Running, Squash, WWE, Horse Racing, Volleyball, among others. These events
have elicited participation of the highest calibre of athletes and huge public interest and attendance.
Pioneers of the distance running movement in India, Procam International’s Big 4 – Tata Mumbai
Marathon, Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K and Tata Steel
Kolkata 25 K — are global leaders in their respective distances. They have ushered in a running
revolution that has helped redefine, the health, fitness, and ‘giving’ paradigm of our country.