Rapidly-growing Ultra-running waits for a ‘berth’ in Olympics; Indian team hope to win gold in the World Championship
Sudeep Pakrashi: Traditional Marathon race covering 42.195 kilometers is a popular sport. In contrast, ‘ultra-running’ is a rapidly growing discipline featuring races with longer distances: 50 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 24-hour runs. Events take place on different terrains, including trails, mountains, 400m tracks, or roads, making each format unique. The game has a governing body named the International Association of Ultra-runners (IAU), which is affiliated with the International Athletics Federation (IAF). In India, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promotes the game. There are two major international events in this sport so far: the Asia-Oceania Continental Championship and the World Championship. Ahead of the forthcoming World Championship in 24-hour running to be held in Albi, France, on 18th and 19th October, the 12-member Indian team (six male and six female) have been undergoing an intense preparation under the tutelage of the country’s most experienced coach, Santhosh Padmanabhan, in Bangalore for around four to five months. While speaking over phone from Bangalore Padmanavan said, “We have worked hard this time. My aim is for the men’s team to break the world record of 319 kilometers in 24 hours, while for the women’s team, it is to break national record of 204 kilometers by Anju Saini in 24 hours. Santhosh added, “I am optimistic that our men’s team will be able to able to win a gold medal and I believe the women’s team will be finishing within the top five.” The best performance of India’s men’s team in a 24-hour world championship was 9th place in 2023 at Chinese Taipei. The women’s team were placed 15th in the same event in 2023. India’s men’s team also earned an inspiring 7th spot in the World Championship, but in the 100-kilometer-running last year in Bangalore. Padmanabhan sounded relying on Amar Devanda who had an individual gold medal in the 24-hour running in Asia-Oceania Continental championship in Canberra last year, covering 272.4 kilometers in 24 hours. Santhosh stated, “He had an incredible performance in the championship and as he is in form in the training Amar can also gift us a medal individually in the world championship also with another remarkable performance.” The coach also mentioned Ullas Hoshalli Narayana’s name, who earned a bronze in the 100-kilometer World Championship in Bangalore last year. The AFI-certified and USATF level-2 coach with an experience of 16 years has also an ammunition in his six-member female team. She is Sunita Subba, the ‘wonder girl’ from Darjeeling. Sunita has long been a pioneer in India’s ultra-endurance circuit. In 2022, she made headlines by winning the Hell Ultra — a brutal 122-kilometre run from Leh to Nubra Valley, crossing the formidable Khardung La Pass at 17,582 feet. Braving sub-zero temperatures, steep altitude, and oxygen-thin air, she became the first woman from the Darjeeling Hills to win this high-altitude ultra marathon — a feat that drew national acclaim and spotlighted the strength of women runners from the Eastern Himalayas. Padmanabhan said, “Leaving her family, especially the children, Sunita has been training for the last 41 days in Bangalore, staying as a PG. She has set an example of dedication, hard-work and sacrifice. “ India now host over 50 ultra-running events annually and has also hosted prestigious international Ultra running events such as the IAU 50Km and IAU 100km World Championships and multiple IAU 100km and IAU 24 hour Asia-Oceania Championships. Still, it has not been an Olympic sport. Santhosh, who is also a selection committee member, is waiting for the day when ultra-running will be an Olympic sport. “So far, I know, initiatives have been taken for ultra-running’s inclusion in the Olympics. It might be that the 100-kilometer ultra-running event can be included in the Olympics.” revealed Santhosh. The Indian team which will participate in the 24-hour world Championship have financial support from NEB sports pvt Ltd. and Enerjiva. Santhosh sounded confident, concluding, “Once the game becomes an Olympic sport, then the popularity will increase rapidly. Thirty-three countries are participating in the 24-hour world championship. It must increase and then we will also gain the attention of more media and obviously financial support.”
PCB under Fire Over ‘Cheap Quality’ Kit-Row!
The Pakistan Cricket Board is getting slammed after an indelible performance. Well, the player’s performances have gotten some attention; however, now the PCB is under the radar due to the cheap quality kit they provide their players with in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The former cricketer and current coach Atiq-uz-Zaman chose social media to condemn the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The players were seen wearing jerseys drenched in sweat, dripping and sticking onto their bodies, on their ongoing march against UAE, 17th September. He went on to their “X” handle after Pakistan’s win. He stated, “Pakistan players are sweating through low-quality kits while others wear proper dry-fits. This is what happens when tenders go to friends, not professionals. Corruption dripping more than the sweat,” in his tweet. After his tweet, many others voiced their consent on this matter. While diving into it, it was found that, in the PCB website, there was no mention of a kit sponsor for their national team. Other than that, the sponsors like Pepsi, TCL and Parkview City have found their space on the website. Pakistan has been leading the headlines through the off-field controversies. After the India game, the controversies started with the handshake row, to which PCB responded with a removal request of Andy Pycroft as a match referee for the UAE game. When the demand was not met, the Pakistan team was asked to remain at the hotel, delaying the game by an hour. After Pycroft apologised for the miscommunication, the PCB permitted the players to head to the stadium and face the UAE. Thursday’s win gave Pakistan a green light for the Super 4 stage, which means they will face India again.
Simione Urges for More Protection of the Managers from ‘Fans Abuse’
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has urged greater protection for managers from fan abuse after being sent off for reacting to Liverpool supporters at Anfield. Simeone confronted fans behind his dugout after Virgil van Dijk’s 92nd-minute header sealed Liverpool’s 3-2 win in a dramatic Champions League opener. He later admitted his reaction was wrong but called for campaigns protecting managers similar to those against racism in football. “In the same way we fight against racism, we should look at this too because we don’t have a right to respond and it is not easy to be insulted during the entire match,” said Simeone. “My reaction isn’t justifiable but do you know what it is like to be insulted for 90 minutes?” “I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.” “There were insults throughout the match, including gestures. It’s clear that I’m the one who has to stay calm, I have to put up with the insults, the gestures and any situation because I’m in a position where I have to put up with it.” Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated that he hoped the focus would remain on what he called a “great” match rather than the post-goal incident. His side has now won all five of their Premier League and Champions League openers, each sealed with goals after the 80th minute. Slot credited the team’s fitness, mentality, and quality for consistently finding a way to win. “It is not only mentality, it’s also how fit we are, how well prepared we are, that they are able to push one more time,” stated Slot. Slot admitted he was “disappointed” that Liverpool needed yet another late winner, despite a night where the revamped attack — featuring record signing Alexander Isak’s first start — finally clicked. “This is what the new (Champions League) format is about, a first game in a group stage that could be a quarter-final or a semi-final,” he added. “A game like this should not have gone to a late game winner.” “I understand that’s the story of this game and the last five games, but for me it is a different game than the ones we played before. We had so many great attacks today where we could have scored the third goal.”
