Date:15/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/15/stories/2008051556322200.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Bangalore warms up for 10km run

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: “We are at the home stretch and the feeling is very gripping,” said Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International, the promoters of the Sunfeast World 10km run in Bangalore. And with barely four days to go for the world’s richest 10K run, the excitement in Bangalore is palpable.

The $150,000 prize money event, sponsored by Sunfeast has attracted ‘big’ names from the distance running field and the passionate Bangaloreans are not going to miss out on the chance to rub shoulders with the legends. “Bangaloreans are passionate in everything they do…and this event is igniting that passion further,” said Ravi Naware, Divisional Chief Executive ITC Foods, the makers of Sunfeast.

Sporting culture

The brightly painted Sree Kanteerava outdoor stadium and the welcome arch at the gate near the KAA office, add a touch to the event that is surely going to put Bangalore on the ‘sporting map’. “After the Bangalore Open in March, this Sunfeast World 10k run and the National Youth Games, scheduled for the last week of July, will all give this Garden City more credence to the sports culture,” added Mr. Amar Kumar Pandey, the Commissioner of Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS).

The organisers have incorporated the Nations’ Challenge event alongside the main World Elite 10k run, to foster a sense of Indianness to the event with 15 State and affiliated units having entered the fray. With two male and one women participant being made mandatory to comprise a team, Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) could not gain an entry (as it couldn’t find a woman runner).

The mobilising for charity causes have also gained momentum with Bangalore Cares, the Charity partner to the event, and its team of volunteers going full steam in garnering numbers.

Kingfisher Sakkath Bangloreans and Kingfisher Bombaat Brigades will add colour to the celebrations, which will be through the 5.7 kms ‘Majja run’, which will be the last event to be flagged off at approximately 9.45 a.m. on Sunday.

The main event, the World 10k, along with the Nations Challenge (men), is expected to be flagged off at 7.10 a.m.