NEW DELHI: Double Olympic gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei had made his international debut in India way back in 2014 at the World 10K Bengaluru, where he finished second.
The Ugandan track legend has set his foot again in the country after a long gap of 10 years and will be seen competing in the upcoming edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Olympic star and world champion has switched full-time to road racing after quitting the track following his 10,000m gold at the Paris Olympics. Cheptegei, employed with the Ugandan Police Force, spoke about how his first race in India set a benchmark for his career.
“India played a huge role for me, especially as it was a big part of my success story. It gave me a real opportunity, and even after 10 years, my management team said, ‘If you want to have another 10 years of your career on the roads, you need to go back to India.’ That’s why I’m back, to give back to the people. I hope Sunday’s race will go well for me. The priority is to keep building towards my next chapter in running,” Cheptegei said on Friday.
The VDHM — a World Athletics Gold Label road race — will feature globally acclaimed runners clashing for top honours. Cheptegei will face stiff competition from two-time 5000m world champion Muktar Edris of Ethiopia. Interestingly, Edris recently defeated Cheptegei in a 10-mile race in Tilburg.
The Ugandan confirmed that he will no longer be returning to the track, with his sole focus now on building a career in long-distance running. “I’m done with track. Now I hope to be a long-distance athlete. I wish to be remembered as a complete athlete.”
Cheptegei reflected on his transition to longer races and said, “Right now, I’m still figuring out the longer distances, even though I have had some experience. Edris has already run a couple of marathons, so he has the edge with more experience. I’m still learning the dynamics of these races.”
Edris, on his part, informed that he has been grappling with injuries and isn’t running at his best. “I had an adductor injury and now I’m suffering from a knee issue. The injury has healed nearly 95% but it’s manageable. I’m currently at 70-80% of my previous form and improving steadily. I aim to return at full strength, especially for the longer races,” he said.
Limo expected to challenge McColgan in women’s race
The women’s field in the VDHM will include the 2022 Birmingham CWG champion in the 10,000m, Eilish McColgan . However, Kenya’s Cynthia Limo , the 2016 World half marathon silver medallist, is all set to give the British runner a tough going in the upcoming race.
Having worked hard on her fitness ahead of the VDHM, McColgan said, “Being out of the sport for so long makes it tough. It takes about six months to return and then more time to rebuild fitness. I am not quite in the British record or my personal best form yet, but things have come together well,” said McColgan, who will be returning to India for a competition for the first time since 2008.
“My first international competition was the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India, so I’m excited to race here again.”
Limo, while talking about the tough times in her career when she had to deal with the loss of her first child, said, “You’ve to encourage yourself and focus. Despite the things that have happened, it has been hard for me, but I always still encouraged myself. I had that spirit inside of me and that’s what helped me to push and keep this strength in everything.”
Limo returns to Delhi for the first time since 2015, having won the race back then. “Returning to run again fills me with a sense of privilege. My aim for Sunday is to perform as well as I did nine years ago in 2015. That’s my goal.”
The Ugandan track legend has set his foot again in the country after a long gap of 10 years and will be seen competing in the upcoming edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Olympic star and world champion has switched full-time to road racing after quitting the track following his 10,000m gold at the Paris Olympics. Cheptegei, employed with the Ugandan Police Force, spoke about how his first race in India set a benchmark for his career.
“India played a huge role for me, especially as it was a big part of my success story. It gave me a real opportunity, and even after 10 years, my management team said, ‘If you want to have another 10 years of your career on the roads, you need to go back to India.’ That’s why I’m back, to give back to the people. I hope Sunday’s race will go well for me. The priority is to keep building towards my next chapter in running,” Cheptegei said on Friday.
The VDHM — a World Athletics Gold Label road race — will feature globally acclaimed runners clashing for top honours. Cheptegei will face stiff competition from two-time 5000m world champion Muktar Edris of Ethiopia. Interestingly, Edris recently defeated Cheptegei in a 10-mile race in Tilburg.
The Ugandan confirmed that he will no longer be returning to the track, with his sole focus now on building a career in long-distance running. “I’m done with track. Now I hope to be a long-distance athlete. I wish to be remembered as a complete athlete.”
Cheptegei reflected on his transition to longer races and said, “Right now, I’m still figuring out the longer distances, even though I have had some experience. Edris has already run a couple of marathons, so he has the edge with more experience. I’m still learning the dynamics of these races.”
Edris, on his part, informed that he has been grappling with injuries and isn’t running at his best. “I had an adductor injury and now I’m suffering from a knee issue. The injury has healed nearly 95% but it’s manageable. I’m currently at 70-80% of my previous form and improving steadily. I aim to return at full strength, especially for the longer races,” he said.
Limo expected to challenge McColgan in women’s race
The women’s field in the VDHM will include the 2022 Birmingham CWG champion in the 10,000m, Eilish McColgan . However, Kenya’s Cynthia Limo , the 2016 World half marathon silver medallist, is all set to give the British runner a tough going in the upcoming race.
Having worked hard on her fitness ahead of the VDHM, McColgan said, “Being out of the sport for so long makes it tough. It takes about six months to return and then more time to rebuild fitness. I am not quite in the British record or my personal best form yet, but things have come together well,” said McColgan, who will be returning to India for a competition for the first time since 2008.
“My first international competition was the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India, so I’m excited to race here again.”
Limo, while talking about the tough times in her career when she had to deal with the loss of her first child, said, “You’ve to encourage yourself and focus. Despite the things that have happened, it has been hard for me, but I always still encouraged myself. I had that spirit inside of me and that’s what helped me to push and keep this strength in everything.”
Limo returns to Delhi for the first time since 2015, having won the race back then. “Returning to run again fills me with a sense of privilege. My aim for Sunday is to perform as well as I did nine years ago in 2015. That’s my goal.”
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