Kolkata: The landmark 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata — the world’s first World Athletics Gold Label 25K road race, promoted by Procam International — is set to feature an exceptional lineup of 22 pacers whose stories of discipline, courage and personal transformation will inspire thousands of runners on Sunday, December 21.
This year’s pacer squad mirrors the diversity and spirit of the running community. From Defence Forces personnel with distinguished service records to women who have overcome personal and physical hurdles, and professionals balancing demanding careers with fitness, the 10th edition truly embodies the #DecadeOfDifference ethos of the event. Their journeys also reflect the remarkable growth of Kolkata’s running culture over the past decade.
Among the inspiring 10K pacers is Roshni Guhathakurta, born with bilateral clubfoot and reliant on major corrective surgeries in childhood. Today, the CESC Deputy Manager and mother of an eight-year-old is a seasoned marathoner and ultra runner. She will pace the 85-minute bus.
Chanda Ahuja, entrepreneur and founder of Chandagini, and mother of two, will pace the 75-minute bus, while ophthalmologist and dedicated runner Dr. Saswati Biswas will lead the 60-minute group.
In the 25K category, Kolkata’s Manpreet Singh will lead the field as the fastest pacer with the 2:00-hour bus. From New Delhi, Kartikay Pandey, who transformed his life during the pandemic by reducing his weight from 95 kg to 77 kg, will pace the 2:05-hour bus. Adding exemplary grit to the lineup is Bapai Bhattacharyya, a Kargil War veteran and Comrades Marathon Bronze Medalist, who will pace the 2:40-hour bus.
“Pacing is a selfless act, and as we mark the 10th edition of the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, our pacers truly reflect the heart and soul of this event. From the discipline of the Defence Forces pacing the 25K to the inspiring all-women team leading the 10K, this lineup represents courage, diversity and community spirit,” said Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International.
Women 10K Pacers (10 km)
- Alina Goperma Sherpa – 58 min
- Dr. Saswati Biswas – 60 min
- Uma Devi Sharma (Kalyani, WB) – 65 min
- Jyoti Saboo – 70 min
- Shobha Agarwal – 75 min
- Chanda Ahuja – 75 min
- Namrata Agarwal – 80 min
- Roshni Guhathakurta – 85 min
- Priyanti Dutta – 88 min
(All pacers from Kolkata)
Defence Forces Pacers (25 km)
- Manpreet Singh (Kolkata) – 2:00 hrs
- Kartikay Pandey (New Delhi) – 2:05 hrs
- Ram Mohan (Punjab) – 2:10 hrs
- Ashish Dhingra (New Delhi) – 2:15 hrs
- Gurmeet Raturi (New Delhi) – 2:20 hrs
- Chanambam Ruhikanta Singh (Kanpur) – 2:25 hrs
- Lalit Kumar Tiwari (New Delhi) – 2:30 hrs
- Paramjeet Yadav (Rewari) – 2:35 hrs
- Bapai Bhattachharyya (Kolkata) – 2:40 hrs
- Gaurav Srivastav (Lucknow) – 2:45 hrs
- Dr. Ratandeep Singh (New Delhi) – 2:45 hrs
- Sanjeev Kumar (Kolkata) – 2:50 hrs
- Vidyasagar Mehta (New Delhi) – 2:55 hrs
The Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata will be broadcast live on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 1 HD on December 21 from 5:30 am onwards.
