Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s elite race at the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata on Sunday, taking victory in 1:11:49 to mark a successful debut over the 25 kilometre distance.
The two time Olympic champion pulled clear in the latter stages of the race to lead a strong international field, finishing seven seconds ahead of Tanzania’s reigning world marathon champion Alphonce Felix Simbu, who clocked 1:11:56. Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana completed the podium in 1:11:59.
Cheptegei, who still holds the world records in the 5000m and 10000m, was competing in his first ever 25K road race. The win adds to an already decorated career that includes three Olympic medals, two of them gold, and multiple world championship titles.
The victory was also Cheptegei’s second road race win in India this year, following his triumph at the World 10K Bengaluru in April, further underlining his transition from track dominance to longer road events.
Behind the leading trio, Kenya’s Collins Kipkorir finished fourth in 1:12:02, while India’s Gulveer Singh placed fifth overall in 1:12:06, a time that earned him the Indian men’s elite title and a new national record.
Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw won the women’s elite race in 1:19:36, securing her second Kolkata 25K crown, while Seema set a new Indian national record of 1:26:04 to win the Indian women’s elite category.
