Kolkata, December 12, 2016: Tata Steel Kolkata 25K will see a 30-member strong Indian contingent fighting it out for the top spot with G Lakshmanan and Swati Gadhave leading the battle for the prize money of Rs 22, 80,000/- on December 18.
G Lakshmanan took the top spot at the recently concluded ADHM with a 1:04:37 timing, Man Singh coming third. Both these Services athlete will be seen in action this year.
G Lakshmanan from Services won gold medal in 5000m on the opening day of 56th Open National Athletics championship in September. Lakshmanan too successfully retained his title from the Kolkata edition last year with a time of 14:16.07. His first Open victory at this distance came in Ranchi three years ago.
Lakshmanan will have company from top athletes Man Singh, Srinu Bughata and Baliappa AB.
Among the women athletes Swati won the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2016 with a timing of 34:45 and she is the winner of 10,000m Federation Cup 2016. She will get tough competition from Monika Athare who won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon this year.
The Squad:
Men: Lakshmanan G, Srinu Bugatha, Man Singh, Balliappa A B, Damor Mohan Bhai, Govind Singh, Deepak Bapu Kumhar, Oniam Sanaton, Param Singh, Tirtha Pun, Sahender Singh, Suleman, Vikas Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Anil Singh, Ram Vilas, Shubhankar Ghosh.
Women: Swati Gadhave, Monika Athare, Manisha Salunkhe, Monika Raut, Amandeep Kaur, Seema, Monika Chaudhary, Jyoti Gawte, Shyamli Singh.
