Asian Games medallist Karthik Kumar aims for improved timing at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

2018 winner Abhishek Pal also shared his thoughts.

The 18th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is set to bring together 36,194 participants in the capital city on Sunday. With a prize pool of USD 268,000, the event will feature amateur runners alongside Olympic champions and Indian Elite athletes on one of the world's fastest courses. The International Elite winners in the men's and women's categories will each claim USD 27,000, with the top 10 finishers also earning a share. An additional Event Record Bonus of USD 12,000 is up for grabs.

On the Indian elite side, the male and female winners will secure INR 4,00,000 each, and the top 10 finishers will also receive rewards. Moreover, there's an Event Record Bonus of INR 1,00,000 and a performance bonus for athletes who achieve specific times.

Karthik Kumar, looking forward to the competition, said, "I am eager to compete with international athletes in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. We can learn a lot from them, and it's enjoyable to run alongside them. I'm aiming for an impressive timing and hope to outperform an international athlete."

Murali Kumar Gavit stated, "My main goal is to improve my personal best in this year's Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. A strong start is crucial, and if I can achieve that, I believe I can meet my targets."

Abhishek Pal, the winner of the 2018 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, expressed his hopes to win the Indian Elite Men's race. He said, "This is my fourth Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, and I hope to replicate my success from the 2018 edition. I've prepared well, and I'm confident of delivering a strong performance on Sunday."

Defending Champion of the Indian Elite Women's race, Sanjeevini Jadhav, is excited about the race. She mentioned, "I aim to better my personal best at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and defend my title. I'm thrilled about the race on Sunday."

Kavita Yadav, a first-time participant in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, expressed her excitement, saying, "I'm thrilled about running in Delhi. I look up to Sanjeevini and will strive to keep pace with her, and hopefully, surpass her. If I can match Sanjeevini's pace, I can certainly achieve a commendable timing."

Tamshi Singh is set to participate in her first official Half Marathon and considers the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon the most significant event in her young running career. She is determined to achieve a strong timing.

The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon will be broadcast live on Sony Sports 1 on October 15 from 6:30 am to 10:30 am. The event includes various categories such as Half marathon, Open 10K, Great Delhi Run (Approx.4.5km), Senior Citizens' Run (Approx.2.5km), and the Champions with Disability Run (Approx. 2.5km). The first race of the day, the Half Marathon (Amateur), will start at 5:20 am from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.