Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s elite race at the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata 2025 on Sunday (21), finishing in a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 49 seconds. India’s Gulveer Singh and Seema were also in top form, claiming the Indian national titles in their respective categories, with both athletes setting new national records at the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
The women’s elite race was also exciting, with Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw winning the title on her debut and leading an Ethiopian sweep of the podium spots.
World 25K Kolkata International Elite Races
On the men’s side, Cheptegei, who holds world records in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events, broke away late from his rivals to finish ahead of Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu and Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana and pocketed USD $15,000 for his efforts.
“This victory gives me confidence for my next marathon,” said Cheptegei.
Read More: Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede Aims For 3rd Straight Win at Kolkata 25K Race
Simbu, the reigning world marathon champion, secured second place with a time of 1:11:56, while third place went to Ramakongoana with a time of 1:11:59, followed by Collins Kipkorir of Kenya with 1:12:02.
Cheptegei was competing in his first 25-kilometer road race. This was Uganda’s second win in India in 2025, having previously won the World 10K Bengaluru race in April.
Degitu Azimeraw Is the Women’s Elite Champion
In the women’s elite race, Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia finished in 1:19:36 to win her second Kolkata 25K title and pocketed USD $15,000 in prize money. She previously won the event in 2017. Her compatriot and defending champion, Sutume Kebede, finished second with a time of 1:20:28, missing out on a third consecutive victory at the event.
Ethiopian athletes dominated the top spots. Third place went to Meselech Alemayehu with a time of 1:20:48, Kuftu Tahir took fourth with 1:23:32, and Demilew Zemenaw rounded out the top five with 1:23:34.
Indian Elite Races See Record Runs
Gulveer Singh made it through to world-class elite road running on Sunday in spectacular fashion with a super run as he won the Indian men’s elite title for the second consecutive year. The 27-year-old finished in 1:12:06, breaking the national record of 1:14:10 that he set on the same course in 2024. Singh also placed fifth overall in the men’s elite category.
“Records come with consistency. There are no shortcuts,” said Gulveer after the win.
Meanwhile, Harmanjot Singh finished second in the Indian men’s category with a time of 1:15:11, while Sawan Barwal took third place, posting 1:15:25 to get home ahead of fourth-place finisher Kartik Karkera at 1:16:48.
Meanwhile, Seema won the Indian women’s elite section in her first 25-kilometer competition. She finished in 1:26:04, breaking the previous national record of 1:26:53 set by L. Suriya in 2017. Last year’s winner, Sanjivani Jadhav, took second place in 1:30:34, while Nirmaben Thakor claimed third with 1:32:02.
The Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata is recognized as a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race and has been one of the sport’s premier road running events each year.
