New Delhi: David Rudisha, one of the most exciting, young Olympic and World Champions was announced as the Event Ambassador of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, 2012.
Rudisha, who took the entire sporting world by storm by setting the new World record while winning the 800m Olympic Gold in London, will be in Delhi from Thursday, September 27 to promote the event, meet with the sponsors and partners, the elite athletes, encourage the amateur athletes and later on spread the message worldwide about the event and the running movement in the country.
David Rudisha is the current Olympic and world record holder in the 800 metres, as well as the current World and Olympic Champion at the distance. Rudisha holds the three fastest, six of the eight fastest, and half of the twenty fastest times ever for this event. Just weeks ago at the London 2012 Olympics he astonished the world by breaking the world record for 800 metres with a time of 1:40.91.
David Rudisha’s association with the event is in line with Procam International’s efforts to bring to India some the world’s most accomplished sportsmen to raise the profile of the sport of distance running. Some of the luminaries who have been event ambassadors in the past include names like Richard Hadlee, Allan Border, Jackie-Joyner Kersee, Daley Thompson, Catherine Freeman, to name a few.
“I am delighted to be the Event Ambassador for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. It is so vital, that besides the amazing competitive field, which also includes some of my fellow-Kenyans, there is also the average runner who participates for health and fitness, charity and also for self belief. This event has always been very much of an anticipated event every year and 2012 is no exception. I am honored to be a part of it and encourage everyone to be a participant in whatever way possible. I am looking forward to my visit and my best wishes to the organisers, sponsors, runners, and most of all the city of Delhi,” said Rudisha in his message from Kenya.
Super fast elite athlete field:
The world’s most prestigious half marathon, with its prize fund of USD 210,000 and bonuses of USD 25,000 for a new world record and USD 10,000 for a course record has once again attracted a super fast field of elite men and women, with 12 male athletes having sub-60 timings and eight female athletes with sub-70 timings.
Leading the men’s field will be the world’s fastest half marathon of the year, Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay, who has confirmed his participation with the sole aim of attempting to lower the world record of 58.23. The 21-year-old Tsegay clocked 58.47 when wining the Prague half marathon in March 2012.
Tsegay will lead a talented field of fellow Ethiopians, among them defending champion Lelisa Desisa and course record holder Deriba Merga.
The Kenyan challenge will be spearheaded by Ezekiel Chebii, who clocked 59.05 while winning the Lille Half Marathon early this month. Running alongside him will be Gilbert Masai, who clocked 59.57 while finishing 4th at Lille. Leonard Langat, with a personal best of 59.52 and Peter Kamais, with a personal best of 59.53 are the other notable Kenyans. Moroccan Abdellah Fathi, Tanzanian Dickson Marwa and South African Lucky Modike are the other names to watch out for.
The women’s race too will see a battle between the Kenyans and Ethiopians, with Namibia’s Helalia Johannes, who finished 12th in the marathon at the London Olympics, emerging as the dark horse. The Kenyans will be led by Helah Kiprop and Caroline Kilel, with Helen Kimutai and Irene Mogaka also names to watch out for.
The Ethiopian challenge will be spearheaded by Aselefech Mergia, twice winner here and winner of the Dubai Marathon 2012, and Belaynesh Oljira, winner of the Houston Half Marathon 2012.
By Indian Sports News Network
