Dhenkanal: Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM) recently announced the 3rd edition of Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon, scheduled for January 10, 2026.
At a press conference held in Dhenkanal, the official T-shirt for the 2026 half-marathon was unveiled by Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Iswar Patil in the presence of SP Abhinav Sonkar, DFO Sumit Kar and Chief, Corporate Services, Tata Steel Meramandali, Mohit Das, Chief, Sports, Tata Steel, Mukul Vinayak Choudhari and Executive Director, MGM Minerals Ltd, Gopabandhu Dash.
The event commemorates the centenary of Amar Shaheed Baji Rout, youngest martyr of India’s freedom struggle, paying tribute to his indomitable courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy. It aims to spread awareness about biodiversity conservation, particularly the protection of elephants, while promoting Kapilash as a global destination for eco-tourism and professional running, a company release said.
The marathon will feature three categories — a 21 km and 10 km run for participants aged 18 and above, and a 5 km run for boys and girls aged 14 to 18. The marathon route has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the globally recognised body headquartered in Monaco, reaffirming the event’s growing stature on the international running calendar, it added.
“Third edition of the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon is being organised by Tata Steel and the Dhenkanal district administration and it will be of international level. I would urge all to participate in huge numbers. The district administration will extend all support for the event and with everyone’s cooperation we will make it a grand success,” the district collector said.
Expressing gratitude to the district administration and supporting partners, D B Sundara Ramam Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel ,said, “At Tata Steel, we believe in using sports as a means to promote fitness, good health, well-being, and community spirit. The Kapilash Half Marathon holds a special place in our hearts, as it not only promotes an active lifestyle but also raises awareness about wildlife and biodiversity conservation. This year, as we also commemorate the centenary of Amar Shaheed Baji Rout, we look forward to the enthusiastic participation of runners on January 10, 2026.”
Registrations are open through https://tatasteelruns.com/ till December 15, 2025. With limited slots for 5,000 participants, 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. Participants will receive a goodie bag including a T-shirt, bib chip, and refreshments.
The Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon 2026 will offer cash prizes worth Rs 9.64 lakh, with 30 awards across categories. The top prize of Rs 1 lakh each will be given to the winners of the Men’s and Women’s 21 km runs.
The event is supported by MGM Minerals Ltd, Tata 1mg, Tata BlueScope Steel, Khemka Industries, NAVA, Jamipol, Tata Steel Support Services Ltd, Tata Steel Technical Services Ltd, and TM International Logistics Ltd.
