Countdown to Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore 2014 begins

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In excess of 25000 registrations received till date

                                         Bangalore, May 6, 2014

Procam International, promoters of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore 2014, today announced that the total registrations received for the upcoming run had crossed a phenomenal 25000, crossing last year’s count by around 3000 registrations. A superfast elite athlete field to challenge existing course records, new initiatives for the year and details on the Get Active Expo for the TCS World 10K were among the significant announcements made in a Meet & Greet Session at the ITC Windsor, Bengaluru, the Official Host Hotel, on Tuesday.

The occasion was also used by the promoters to declare its preparedness to present an improved seventh edition of the World’s Premier 10K run that presents itself as a classical synthesis of track & field and road running and offers many of the world’s fastest track athletes and their road-running counterparts an opportunity to come together and vie for glory. The seventh edition of the unique run will be flagged off from Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday, May 18 2014.

Present on the occasion Mr. Nagaraj Ijari, Vice President & Global Head of Hi-tech & Professional Services Business Segment, Tata Consultancy Services,Mr. Virendra Razdan  , General Manager, ITC Windsor,  Mr. Vivek Jawali, Chairman of Cardiac Fortis,Mr. Sandeep Juneja,  Vice President Commercial, DHL, Ms. Rashmi Sharma, Cluster Head, Radio Mirchi Bangalore,  Mr Murray Culshaw, Founder Chairman Bangalore Cares, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rai, Secretary Karnataka Athletic Association, Ms.Reeth Abhraham,International Athlete Mr. P.N. Sankaran, Director Operations, Procam International and Mr. Vivek B Singh, Jt. Managing Director, Procam International.

Commenting on the preparations for the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore 2014, Nagaraj Ijari, Vice-President & Global Head Hi-Tech & Professional Services Business Segment, TCS,“Today we stand on the threshold of yet another edition of the TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014, an event that continues to change the way the world looks at 10K runs. We are glad to present improved events each year and look forward to welcoming top track & field and roadrunners from across the world, within India, and from Bangalore to the run. We wish them the very best as they train for the run.”

Strong response from Bangalore city: It has been a momentous seven-year journey for the World 10K Bangalore since its inception in 2008, with the event setting benchmarks in terms of elite athlete participation, the involvement of the city and the amount of money raised for charity. For the seventh year, the total participation in the event has crossed 25,000. This commitment from the participants propels Procam International to deliver superior events year after year.

The Open 10K Run, which also includes contests ‘Nike – The Young and The Fast’ and the ‘DHL Corporate Champions’, has received around 13,200 entries, a whopping 2500 more than last year, while the Majja Run10,600. The Senior Citizens’ Run will have over 750, while the event for the Champions With Disability will see 250 participants. Besides these races, the feature events of the day will be the World 10K for elite men & women.

Track athletes and their road-running counterparts to come together in a superfast elite athlete field: Global Sports Communication (GSC), the event’s elite athlete coordinator has put together a highly competitive field of elite athletes for the TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014, with an aim to lower existing course records.

The men’s record stands at 27.51 minutes, set by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese in 2008, while the women’s mark stands at 31.58, set by Ethiopian Yimer Wude in 2010. An added incentive of USD 7500 is up for grabs for the new course record.

Leading the field at the stadium’s start line on Sunday, May 18 will be defending champion and world famous Alex Oloitiptip among men, and winner of a stunning seven medals at World Championships, Linet Masai on the women’s side.

Bringing out the true character of the event as a leading track & field and road-running event, the 10K Bangalore will bring together top road racerunners such as Alex Oloitiptip, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, Lucy Kabuu and Meselech Melkamu and their track & field counterparts Moses Kipsiro, Vincent Chepkok, Linet Masai and Ababel Yeshaneh.

Each of the runners has highly impressive qualifications. While Alex is the event’s defending champion, Geoffrey ran the fastest half marathon of 2013, Lucy is among the world’s leading female distance runners, and Meselech is one of the fastest debutants in marathon in 2012.

Among the track & field experts, Moses won the 5000m and 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Vincent was the 8th fastest athlete in 10,000m in 2013, Linet has won several medals at the World Championships in different events, and Ababel was the 5th fastest female runner over 10,000m in 2013. This proves that the event presents itself as an extraordinary platform where the world’s finest runners come together and strive for victory.

According to Jos Hermens of GSC, besides Linet, the other strong contenders in the women’s run will be highly experienced Ethopian Meselech Melkamu, winner of five bronze medals at the World Cross Country Championships, and the brilliant Lucy Kabuu, who finished fourth in Bangalore last year and won the Delhi Half Marathon in 2011. They can expect to be given a run for their money by Ethopian runner Guteni Shone, back in Bangalore after impressing the running fraternity at last year’s TCS World 10K by finishing second behind Gladys Cherono.

Linet Masai is part of the ‘Masai Running Family’, having talented runner Moses and Dennis Masai as her brothers and Magdalyne as her younger sister running international as well. Her Gold at the 2009 Berlin World Champs 10,000m is the highlight of her career so far. She also clinched a 4^th place at the Olympic Games 10,000m in 2008. Holding a World Junior 10,000m Record (30.26.50) and a World Best 10 miles (50.39) proves Linet is among the best female long distance runners and should be the woman to beat.

Meselech has a great career on the track and cross-country behind her. She won five bronze medals at the World Cross Country Championships and won the golden medal in the junior race in 2004. Meselech represented Ethiopia at five World Championships, with her silver medal at the 10,000m in 2009 as a highlight. During the same year, she set a new African Record in the 10,000m by running a fabulous 29.53.80. Meselech Melkamu decided in 2012 to move to the marathon and made her debut in Frankfurt, winning the race in a quick 2.21.01.

Lucy currently holds the 2nd fastest half marathon time in history, 66.09, clocked at the RAK Half Marathon last year and the 9th fastest in the full marathon, run in Dubai 2012. She is also winner of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in 2011. After finishing fourth in last year’s Bangalore 10K, she is aiming for a top three position this year.

After her top performance in Bangalore last year, Guteni went on to win both Luanda and Egmond Half Marathons. At the 2014 RAK Half Marathon, she finished third in a very competitive field. She will be one runner to watch out for.

The exciting men’s field includes 14 athletes who have run the 10 km just above 28.00 on either track or road and poses a strong challenge to the existing course record.

Leading the Men Elite Athletes will be defending champion of the event and Kenya’s Alex Oloitiptip. After his victory in Bangalore last year, Alex made his half marathon debut in Luanda where he was runner-up in a highly competitive running field. Making a transition to road races, Alex is happy to be back in Bangalore and remembers with pride his top achievements that include winning the 2014 Azkoitia – Azpeitia Half Marathon.

Alex will face stiff competition from Geoffrey, the 2014 World Half Marathon Champion and former world junior cross champion. His personal best of 58:54, set at the RAK Half Marathon this year, ranked him number one on the IAAF top lists. Geoffrey will come to India for the fourth time. He won the Bangalore 10K in 2012 and was runner-up in the 2011 and 2013 Delhi Half Marathon.

Other top athletes such as Ethopia’s gifted Birhanu Legese, the fastest man in the run with a best of 27:34, and Kinde Atanaw, Morocco’s Najim El Qady, and Kenyans Jacob Kendagor and Peter Matelong will ensure edge of the seat action. Posing a threat to the Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes will be American athletes Jeffrey Eggleston and talented Ugandan debutant Joshua Cheptegei, making his international debut in Bangalore.

Not new to India, Moses is a strong contender too. He took the second place in Bangalore in 2008 and 2010, and aims at taking the first place this year. Last year, Moses had the biggest win of his career on the road by beating Wilson Kipsang and Haile Gebrselassie in the Great Manchester 10K.

Known to be a strong athlete who combines track and road races, Birhanu will add depth to the field in Bangalore. He had his breakthrough at the Great Ethiopian Run in 2012 by finishing second. Last year, he took the third place in Bangalore before he started his track season. Birhanu improved his personal best at the FKB Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands to 13:15.32, and is a man who can do extremely well in the run this year. Even though Kinde Atanaw’s athletics career started only two years ago, the Ethopian made a huge progression, especially at the 10K. After finishing fourth at the 2012 World Junior Championships, he improved his personal best to 27:36 in Prague last year.

Vincent Chepkok won his first international medal at the WC Cross Country in 2007, where he finished second in the junior race. In 2011, he took the bronze medal in the senior race. Vincent was among the bests track athletes for the past few years. In 2013, he ran the 8th fastest time of the year on the 10.000m. So far he has run 11 times sub 13:00 in the 5000m on the track and it will be interesting to observe his performance in Bangalore.

Get Active Expo: The Get Active Expo for the TCS World 10K Bangalore will be held at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium from May 9 to 11, 2014. For the first time, leading sports brands such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Asics and Proline will present at the Get Active Expo and display a wide array of products for the benefit of participants. Apart from them, TCS, Perfomax, Narayana Health, Jungle Formula, Dr. Lal Path Labs, Enerzal, Art of Living, Myntra and Mana projects will also be present.

The Expo will be on between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm on all three days and will be the venue for all confirmed participants from Bengaluru and its suburbs to collect their running numbers along with goodie bags.

The new dates constitute a whole weekend and give participants the whole of Friday, Saturday and Sunday to come and collect their running numbers. The period of a week before Race Day also gives them ample time to study in detail, race day instructions, familiarize themselves with security arrangements, traffic restrictions, road closures and other arrangements that will come into force for Race Day.

Rashmi Sharma, Cluster Head, Radio Mirchi Bangalore, said, “Radio Mirchi 98.3FM is glad to bring the Get Active Expo to Bangalore and give participants of the TCS World 10K an opportunity to celebrate the best in fitness, health and lifestyle plus experience all the excitement surrounding the event. It creates a platform for runners to witness the latest technological advancements in fitness and benefit from world class health and lifestyle brands under one roof.”

Charity bibs for the Majja Run at Rs. 1500 and Open 10K at Rs. 2500 are available with Bangalore Cares and at the Get Active Expo until numbers last. A slew of fresh initiatives have been planned to make the running experience on May 18 more memorable.

Nike The Young and The Fast: Nike, the official running partner of the TCS World 10K Bangalore, is committed to innovation and to setting new benchmarks at the TCS World 10K, counted amongst the most respected road races in the world.

This year, the world’s leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories announced a grand reward for male and female winners in the 15 to 24 age group of the Open 10K category. The fastest male and female runners will win an exclusive opportunity from Nike to run at an epic International location alongside runners from across the world.

Announcing the reward, Avinash Pant, Marketing Director, Nike India Pvt Ltd said, “Nike always inspires athletes around the world, in redefining standards, and in rewarding achievement, strength of mind and purpose. We are delighted, this year, to announce an award that will give young runners a chance to experience something truly epic. Running at an epic international location, alongside runners from across the world, will leave them inspired to run faster and better.”

The DHL Corporate Champions: This category of the TCS World 10K Bangalore is open to Corporate Teams to help make the experience of running more fulfilling and competitive for the serious corporate runner. The DHL Corporate Champions is gaining tremendous popularity among organizations of all sizes and is being viewed as a highly effective team building exercise for employees. This year, yet again, the run has received overwhelming participation from many of the leading corporate houses across the city and country. The total number of teams registered is 78 and includes names such as IBM, SAP Labs India, ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, ORACLE INDIA, SONY INDIA SOFTWARE CENTRE , TESCO HINDUSTAN SERVICE CENTRE, GE INDIA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INDIA.

The winning team will take home Rs. 1,00,000, and the runners-up will receive Rs. 75,000. The next three finishers will stand to win Rs. 50,000, Rs. 36,000, and Rs. 30,000 respectively.

Announcing the category, Mr. Sandeep Juneja, Vice President – Commercial, DHL Express India said, “Marathon running is all about endurance that tests your physical and mental strength and requires a great running form. Each of these elements make a great running experience and this year to bring in diversity we have made it mandatory for teams to have atleast one woman athlete. This is to encourage women runners to showcase their abilities through running and make DHL Corporate Champions even more exciting. We thank all participating teams and corporates and wish them all the very best.”

Selfie Contest: To keep up with the growing running community on the social media platforms, this year the promoters have introduced a #selfie contest. Take a selfie while training for the TCS World 10K Bangalore, post it on the Facebook page of the run using #TCSWorld10K, and stand a chance to win exciting event merchandise. One lucky winner will get a chance to take a Selfie with the one and only Carl Lewis.

Your Race Day photos: Successful distance running is a huge personal achievement and what better way to share the experience and story with friends and relatives than through a personal photo?

Procam International continues its association with Marathon-Photos.com, the market leaders in event photography, specializing in long distance road races. Runners participating in any of the race categories will get an opportunity to own their running highlights captured in photographs, taken by Marathon-Photos.com, the official event photographer.

Marathon-Photos.com will be photographing participants at several locations on the race route and at the finish. Photographs will be available on the event website within 72 hours of the race.

Kingfisher Run in Costume: There’s added fun and excitement in store for the Majja Run participants in the form of the Kingfisher Run in Costume. There are attractive prizes in two categories up for grabs, and participants will be judged on the criterion of creativity and effort put into making of the costume.

The Kingfisher Sakkath Bangalorean category for individuals offers a first prize of Rs. 30,000, with the second and third winners standing to gain Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively. The Kingfisher Bombaat Brigade for Group participants (minimum 10 members per group) carries a first prize of Rs. 75,000, with the runner-up team winning Rs. 50,000.

Let’s come together once again and make that one supreme effort to deliver another incomparable event to embellish Bangalore’s rich sporting tradition.

Title Sponsor: Tata Consultancy Services

Under the Aegis of: Athletics Federation of India

Supported by: Karnataka Athletics Association

Promoted by: Procam International

For further information please contact:

Procam International

Neha Kandalgaonkar +91 98921 94965

Deepak M Pilankar +91 98800 39634 / + 91 98207 98135

Concept Public Relations Ltd.
Medha Banerjee +91 099861 40357

Puneet Chadha +91 81979 40400

Vasanth Kumar +91 98809 38950

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‘Narendra Modi, the man of toady Martin Luther of yesterday would have surely loved’

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It was a hot day in the still hotter climate of politics in the hotbed of politics ‘Uttar Pradesh’. A leader or rather a born leader with a definite vision with a strong mindset of his very own ideology and an agenda right from the depths of his heart spoke rather than a born politician, which always had been the norm in this state of politics, which has fated many prime ministers to its credit. Yes the leader in question here is none other than Shri Narendra Modi addressing “Bharat Vijay” rally in, Uttar Pradesh. Thousands fell silent as his softly spoken words slowly clamored down from the dais into the hearts and minds of millions of Indians who stood still listening to him totally spell bounded just as they were watching the latest potboiler from Bollywood. Nevertheless, some political parties listened to him just as the sheep stands still facing and listening to the growling Tiger before it pounces on it and finishing its life once and for all
Has Uttar Pradesh finally found its first National Dalit leader belonging to a National party?

As many of his speeches, this speech was a little different as for the first time Modi acclaimed himself a Dalit leader belonging to a caste, which until now was the personal domain of a few local corrupt Dalit leaders and political parties without class and elegance. Thousands of dalits stood dumbstruck as the words sunk in and took meaning in their minds that this man Mr. Modi was in fact a Dalit. They still could not fathom that Mr. Modi the supremo of the biggest and the best political party in India was in fact a part and parcel of their own community, a true brother in arms. This declaration sent shockwaves not only in the political circles but also in India’s hugely dominated caste politics. For many who considered him to be an upper caste with humble background was a shock out of the blue but still it has not diluted his image in any way because of the man’s strong personality coupled with his honest national vision. Yes it’s a deadly distress signal to many Dalit leaders posing as yesterdays bastions or stalwarts of the Dalit politics looked as mere masquerades of sheer epitome. Yes, Modism in short is here to stay and it has added another feather to the Hindutva card of Dalitism. Truly his words mingled with sounds of patriotism and the thunder of the masses shook many in the white garb of politicians in the Indian political scenario. Even BJP was looking for such a leader who could move the masses under its umbrella and convert the Dalit support into votes.

‘Modism’ as many have now started calling his vision for a greater India of tomorrow is in fact an original thought process right from the heart of the great man. This is what makes him so desirable to the Indian public. In fact, many of his speeches contain tidbits in extempore of his heartfelt thoughts forming populist words for the masses who just enjoy listening to them. Magic of Modism is here to stay. Today in the darkest days of Indian politics people are striving struggling to look for a face, which can steer our nation on the right track of development, military steadfastness and a corruption free ethical political framework. People are looking for an end to corruption of every type and degree to save the nation and are willing to take any risk by electing who so ever promises ‘Ram Rajya’ even if the person is a Maoist masquerading as a gentleman. Mr. Modi somehow has managed to become that face people so blindly and desperately were looking for and BJP in fact has saved itself from certain doom by choosing him as their prime ministerial candidate. Today is of Dalits and tomorrow no doubt  would still be there’s and definitely they would decide India’s political future. Their development and rise certainly would be our nations rise and whichever political party promises their development is here to stay. Mr. Modi has in all actuality played politics of tomorrow today by declaring himself a Dalit Leader. He has made sure that his and his political parties golden future was here forever under his leadership.

Today as he has played his caste card he has somehow managed to win the support of all the Dalits in the country though a little late but still having the potential to change the Dynamics of elections in the remaining areas awaiting polling. One can certainly not refrain from comparing him with the steely Martin Luther King bastion of the black movement who strode the difficult path of a racist America in its yesteryears to get justice and equality for the millions of the exploited, apartheid, racist and weak black Americans. Mr. Modi’s attack on the high and mighty in cities and his strong belief in the nation’s youth as above caste, creed and religion based politics evokes a strong sense of leadership qualities as seen in the great Black leader of yesteryears.

Mr. Modi’s Charisma as a leader and a strong political opponent can be gauged from the relentless and vehement attacks on this tea vendor from a humble abode with still humbler antecedents by mostly all the major political party leaders. No matter what a new Dalit national leader can be seen rising on the Indian political horizon that will change the way Indian politics is played and will give more than a run for money to many local Dalit parties.

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Fake encounter: Non-Violence is the only Answer to Instigative Violence

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It is shocking to find Subramanian Swamy toeing the line of the fundamentalist and distorting my position, making false statements. It is also because he probably needed to become a blue eyed boy of BJP, which he has not been, being a late entrant to the Party.

Let him prove that I am a Maoist even when the Maoists themselves would never claim the same. Non violence for us is a value and not merely a strategy.

All the countrymen know that I personally and our organizations stand for the strongest punishment to all the terrorists always.

What we are opposed to is only the capital punishment, hanging the culprit. This is based on our sincere commitment to non-violence. More than 100 countries have given up the barbaric punishment which no human being can approve since killing a human being is an inhuman act!

I know why Mr Swamy is indulging in such a fake criticism….just when Mr Modi is going to poll in Varanasi. Mr Swamy has to defend the communal fervour in BJP’s campaign. However his purpose would be better served if he targets some of those politicians who are engaged in fake battles on non issues instead of people’s issues and struggles.

(Referring to the statement he made on 30th April, 2014, on his Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/drsubramanianswamy/photos/a.118146701658320.18858.107229389416718/401351746671146/?type=1)

With Regards,

Medha Patkar 

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BARKHA DUTT WILL BE IN CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR, SANJAYA BARU

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Penguin Books India cordially invites you to meet the Bestselling author of

The Accidental Prime Minister

Sanjaya Baru

Date: Thursday, 8th May2014

Venue: Gulmohar, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road

Event: Barkha Dutt will be in conversation with Author, Sanjaya Baru

We look forward to see you at the event.

Thanks

Priyanka Sharma

Penguin Books India

Marketing & Promotion

SAVE PAPER | THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT:
1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere
3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water

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The SARCist—an online knowledge and information sharing

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THE SARCIST—AN ONLINE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SHARING PLATFORM

EDITPUBLISHED MAY 7, 2014 BY NARESH KUMAR SAGAR

Pratap Bhanu Mehta

To Me

 

 

 Today at 3:10 PM

Dear Friends, 

On behalf of The Asia Foundation and Centre for Policy Research, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to the formal launch of our new initiative, The SARCist—an online knowledge and information sharing platform on South Asia Regional Cooperation.

The launch event is being held on 15 May 2014, at The Taj Mahal Hotel (Long Champ Hall) from 9:30 am till 1:30 pm. There will be a panel discussion on Envisioning South Asia with discussants from Bangladesh (Professor Mustafizur Rahman); India (Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta); Nepal (Mr. Kanak Mani Dixit); Pakistan (Dr Abid Suleri); and Sri Lanka (Dr Saman Kelegama). Shri Arvind Mehta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

I attach the Program Agenda and The SARCist Concept Note for your reference. Your presence and participation in the discussion will be greatly appreciated. I hope you will be able to make time from your busy schedule and attend the launch if you are in Delhi on 15^th May 2014. Please also share it with your colleagues who may be interested in this initiative.

I request you to please RSVP to Ms Pranika Khurana: pranika@cprindia.org  or Ms Shital Sikka:shital.sikka@asiafoundation.org or to Diya Dutta: diya.dutta@cprindia.org   

Yours sincerely

Navroz Dubash

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PRIZE DISTRIBUTION OF USHA NORTHERN INDIA LADIES OPEN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

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USHA INTERNATIONAL LTD.

Request the pleasure of your company to the

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION

OF

USHA NORTHERN INDIA LADIES OPEN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

Followed by Tea

On

Thursday, 8^th May, 2014 at 2:30 PM

At

The Delhi Golf Club

DR. ZAKIR HUSSAIN MARG, NEW DELHI

Siddharth Shriram, Co – Chairman, Usha International will be the Chief Guest for theoccasion

R.S.V.P

Soham Majumdar

Ph: 9560548866

Email: soham@value360india.com