THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

DHENKANAL, JANUARY 10, 2026

Panchanan Bera of West Bengal and Bharti Nain of Haryana emerged as the champions in the men’s and women’s 21 km categories respectively at the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon 2026, as the third edition of the prestigious race witnessed an overwhelming participation of over 5,500 runners from across 14 states of the country.

Organised by Tata Steel in association with the District Administration Dhenkanal and the Odisha Athletic Association, the marquee sporting event was held in the scenic buffer zone of the Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary with the theme “Run to Protect Wildlife.” The race seamlessly blended high-quality competition with a powerful message on biodiversity conservation, turning the spotlight on the need to protect wildlife, particularly elephants.

The event was flagged off by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology Departments, Government of Odisha, and Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services and Odia Language Literature and Culture Departments, Government of Odisha. Lauding the initiative, Patra thanked Tata Steel and the district administration for organising a half marathon that went beyond physical fitness and called upon citizens to unite for the protection of biodiversity. “I appreciate the efforts of district administration, Dhenkanal and Tata Steel in creating awareness on wildlife protection through this half marathon. I am happy that it has surpassed its last year’s success and have attracted runners from across the nation for the cause,” he said.

Suryabanshi Suraj highlighted the role of such sporting events in inspiring the youth, saying, “Such events actually help in promoting good health and I am happy to see runners in such a huge number participating in this half marathon,” adding that initiatives like this contribute towards building a fit and responsible India.

The 2026 edition also marked a significant milestone with the first-ever international participation, as Elina Tarasova from St. Petersburg, Russia, joined the run. Several dignitaries, including MLAs Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan, Simarani Nayak, Satrughan Jena and Pratap Chandra Pradhan, along with senior district officials, forest department representatives and Tata Steel leadership, were present on the occasion.

Congratulating the winners, D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President – Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said, “Protecting wildlife is not a choice but a responsibility we owe to our future generations. This half marathon is our collective call to protect biodiversity and I am happy that this sporting event is growing as a movement beyond fitness.” He further noted that the event also paid homage to Amar Shaheed Baji Rout on his birth centenary, remembering the courage and supreme sacrifice of India’s youngest martyr of the freedom struggle.

Underscoring the larger significance of the run, Sudhir Kumar Mehta, Vice President – Operations, Tata Steel Meramandali, remarked, “The Kapilash Half Marathon reminds us that protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems requires collective action, and meaningful change begins when communities run together for a cause.”

To meet international standards, the half marathon featured cutting-edge technology such as timing mats, radio frequency chips, split timing systems, tracking cameras and Wi-Fi networks. The race route was certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), with national-level agencies overseeing the conduct of the event.

Supported by several regional industry partners and amplified by students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon 2026 stood out as a premier sporting spectacle combining competitive excellence with environmental advocacy.