New Delhi, Nov. 20: With two-time defending champion Deriba Merga of Ethiopia pulling out at the last moment, it is left to Kenyans Silas Kipruto, Geoffrey Mutai, Erick Ndiemo and Sammy Kosgei to make a mark in the $210,000 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to be held here on Sunday.
The Kenyans have not been able to overcome the challenge thrown down by the Ethiopians in the last three editions and this may be a golden opportunity for them to change the script.
Merga pulled out of the event with a hamstring injury.
Merga, who ran a personal best time of 59:15 minutes in 2008 and 59:53 in the last edition, has not had an impressive season thus far, with injuries dogging him.
The 30-year-old had dropped out of the Ras Al Khaimah half marathon earlier in February after leading till 18 kilometres, making way for Mutai to claim the top honours with a time of 59:43.
Mutai, who is second in the global marathon rankings, had recently won the Rotterdam marathon with a superfast time of 2hrs 4 minutes 55 seconds.
In the women’s section, 2008 champion Aselefech Mergia will lead the Ethiopian charge and look to make amends this time in the IAAF certified gold label race for missing out last year. Mergia had clocked 68:17 in 2008 for the title.
However, she is likely to face a stiff challenge from Kenyans Sharon Jemutai and Lydia Cheromei, with last year’s winner Mary Keitany opting out of Sunday’s event.
Among the Indians, Santosh Kumar, Soji Mathews, Kashinath, D. Akki and P. Nagendra Rao will look to improve their best times during the event. However, last year’s winner Deep Chand Saharan and 10,000m specialist Ram Singh Yadav are missing this time.
In the women’s category, defending champion Sukanya Mal will spearhead the hosts’ challenge with other prominent names in Preeti L. Rao and Kavita Raut.
Hockey great Dhanraj Pillay and Bollywood stars Bipasha Basu, Gul Panag, Rahul Bose, Arshad Warsi will match Delhiites’ steps in Sunday’s race.