Dhenkanal: The Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon will be organised by Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM), in collaboration with Dhenkanal district administration, on January 9, 2027.
Set against the scenic backdrop of buffer area of Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary, near the Sri Chandrasekhar Jew Temple, the event brings together sports, environmental conservation and community participation.
More than 5,000 runners are expected to register across different categories for the upcoming Half Marathon, organisers said at a press conference on Friday.
There will be three races — a 21 km half marathon, and a 10 km run for participants aged 18 years and above, and a 5 km run for boys and girls aged 14-18 years.
Interested participants can register for the races through https://tatasteelruns.com/ until December 15, 2026. Slots are limited for 5,000 participants, hence registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Entry fees are Rs 400 for 21 km, Rs 300 for 10 km, and Rs 150 for 5 km.
Prize money worth Rs 9.64 lakh will be up for grabs across the three categories.
The official T-shirt for the 2027 edition was unveiled by Dhenkanal Collector and District Magistrate Ashish Ishwar Patil, in the presence of Dhenkanal SP Ajinkya Mane, Tata Steel Sports Chief Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, TSM Corporate Services Chief Subhransu Sekhar Panda and MGM Minerals Ltd Chief Operating Officer Sunil Kumar Mishra, among other dignitaries.
“I appreciate Tata Steel for organising this event along the beautiful biodiversity corridor and aligning it with the Nashamukt Bharat initiative. I thank everyone involved and wish the event great success in inspiring people to embrace fitness and a drug-free society,” DM and Collector Patil said.
SP Mane said, “It is not just a marathon, it is a step towards a better tomorrow and a healthier future. From the police department, we will ensure that the event runs smoothly and successfully. I wish Tata Steel all the very best in its endeavours and congratulate the team on this wonderful initiative.”
Tata Steel Corporate Services VP D B Sundara Ramam said the Kapilash Half Marathon has grown beyond a sporting event to become a platform for promoting fitness, biodiversity conservation and community participation.
The theme of Tata Steel runs across locations is ‘Run for a Greener Tomorrow’. The fourth edition is based on the theme of ‘Nashamukt Bharat’, encouraging healthier lifestyles and raising awareness particularly among young people, in alignment with India government’s campaign.