Dhenkanal: The third edition of the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon drew more than 5,500 enthusiastic participants from 14 states on Saturday, transforming the scenic buffer zone of the Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary into a vibrant celebration of fitness, community, and conservation.
Organized by Tata Steel in partnership with the District Administration of Dhenkanal and the Odisha Athletic Association, this year’s event carried the powerful theme “Run to Protect Wildlife”. The race highlighted the need to safeguard the sanctuary’s rich biodiversity, including its notable population of Asian elephants, along with other species such as sambar deer, wild boars, and various birds that thrive in this lush Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest.
The event also paid special tribute to Amar Shaheed Baji Rout, India’s youngest freedom fighter and martyr, whose birth centenary is being commemorated in 2026. Baji Rout, born on October 5, 1926, in nearby Nilakanthapur village, Dhenkanal, sacrificed his life at age 12 during the freedom struggle. The marathon served as a fitting homage to his courage and patriotism.
The race was flagged off by Minister of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology Krushna Chandra Patra, and Minister of Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, and Odia Language Literature and Culture Suryabanshi Suraj.
Both ministers praised the initiative for going beyond physical fitness to foster awareness about biodiversity protection, particularly for elephants, and for promoting health among the youth. “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 years success and have attracted runners from across the nation for the cause, Patra said.
Expressing the belief that such runs will undoubtedly play a major role in fostering a sense of responsibility and dedication among the youth toward building a fit India, Suryabanshi Suraj stated, “Events like these truly promote good health, and I am delighted to see such a large number of runners taking part in this half marathon.”
Elina Tarasova from St. Petersburg in Russia took part in the run, making the event witness first international participation.
In the competitive 21km categories, Panchanan Bera from West Bengal clinched the men’s title, while Bharti Nain from Haryana emerged victorious in the women’s race. A total prize pool of Rs 9.46 lakh was distributed to the winners across various categories.
Congratulating the winners, , Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, D B Sundara Ramam 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 added that, “This year being the birth centenary of Amar Shaheed Baji Rout – India’s youngest martyr of the freedom struggle – we paid homage to the son of the soil by remembering his courage and supreme sacrifice for the nation.”
Sudhir Kumar Mehta added that the event underscores the importance of collective action for protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems, noting that the marathon has been organised for three consecutive years in collaboration with local authorities.
To meet international standards, the event integrated cutting-edge technology, including timing mats, radio frequency chips, split timing mats, tracking cameras, and Wi-Fi networks. The route was certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), a global organisation representing marathon and distance running races worldwide. National-level agencies with expertise in organising similar runs across the country oversaw these enhancements.
The event received support from various industry partners, including MGM Minerals, NAVA Ltd, Khemka Refractories, INOX Air Products, Tata 1mg, and several Tata Group companies. Additionally, students from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, assisted in amplifying the message across social media platforms.
