Tata Steel Meramandali announces 2nd Edition of Kapilash Half-Marathon in Dhenkanal

~ To be organised in partnership with Dhenkanal District Administration in periphery of Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary on January 11, 2025

~ Aims to create awareness on biodiversity and protection of wildlife, particularly elephants

~ 30 awards worth Rs 9.64 lakh proposed for winners; 4,000 running enthusiasts to participate

~ The half marathon route has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), a global organization

Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM), in collaboration with the District Administration of Dhenkanal, has announced the 2^nd Edition of the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon (formerly the Tata Steel Meramandali Half Maratahon). Scheduled for January 11, 2025, the run will be held against the stunning backdrop of the Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary’s buffer zone.

At a press conference held today in Dhenkanal, the official T-shirt for Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon 2025 was unveiled by Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate of Dhenkanal. Also present at the event were Suryamani Pradhan,

Additional  Superintendent of Police, Dhenkanal, Satyanarayana Sahoo, Assistant  Conservator of Forest, Bibudha Garanaik, Sub-Collector, Dhenkanal Sadar, Mohit Das, Chief, Corporate Services, Tata Steel Meramandali, Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, Chief, Sports, Tata Steel, and Gopabandhu Dash, ED of MGM Minerals Ltd.

This half marathon not only fosters competition but also promotes biodiversity conservation, particularly the elephant, in the ecologically rich Kapilash region with the aim to position it as a global hub for tourism and professional running. The event encourages healthy lifestyles, fitness, and a strong sporting spirit, especially among youth. It includes three races: a 21 km and 10 km for participants aged 19 and above, and a 5 km run for boys and girls aged 14 to 19.

Announcing the opening of registration of the half marathon, Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate of Dhenkanal said, The run will be held in the picturesque backdrop of Kapilash Sanctuary of Dhenkanal, which is a very famous place in the state.  We hope this will be one of the coveted half marathons of the country. District Administration will provide all the support to make the run a grand success.

Addressing the conference, on the significance and key features of the half marathon, Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, Chief, Sports, Tata Steel, stated that the route has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), a global organization headquartered in Monaco, representing marathon and distance running races worldwide.  He added that to encourage runners, Rs 9.64 lakh in prize money will be awarded to the top 30 winners across the 21km, 10km, and 5km race categories, with equal prizes for male and female runners.

Registrations for the race are now open, and participants can secure their spot through the official website, www.tatasteelkapilashhalfmarathon.com, until December 15, 2024. With limited slots for 4,000 participants, enrolment is on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fees is Rs 400 for the 21 km run, Rs 300 for the 10 km run, and Rs 150 for the 5 km run. Each participant will receive a goodie bag that includes a T-shirt, bib chip, and refreshments at the venue.

The Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon 2025 offers a total cash prize of Rs 9.64 lakh, along with trophies for 30 participants. The top prize of Rs 1 lakh will be awarded to winners in both the Men’s and Women’s categories for the 21 km run.

To meet international standards, the event will feature advanced technology, including timing mats, RFID chips, split timing mats along the route, tracking cameras, and Wi-Fi networks. National-level agencies with expertise in organising similar events will oversee these enhancements.

In the spirit of collective well-being, Tata Steel has also collaborated with MGM Minerals Ltd, Tata 1mg, Tata Steel Technical Service Limited, Tata Steel Support Service Limited, Tata Steel Utility and Infrastructure Services Ltd, and Tata Pigments for the half marathon.