Ethiopia's distance running great Tirunesh Dibaba on Friday declared herself fit for Sunday's Airtel Delhi Half Marathon despite having a recovery period of just five weeks from the gruelling Berlin Marathon.
Three Olympic Gold winner in 5,000m and 10,000m, Dibaba ran an outstanding time of 2:18:55 at the Berlin Marathon on September 16 but she said she has recovered quickly despite the short amount of time between the two races.
She said she is ready to challenge for the first prize cheque of $ 27,000 — the richest half marathon winner's jackpot in the world — in the Capital city on Sunday.
"One of my plans was to run a 21K (half marathon) after Berlin and my manager told me about Delhi, and I thought it was a good idea," said Dibaba, who has turned into one of the world's top road runners after a medal-laden track and cross country career.
"I've recovered more-or-less, although I wanted to run faster in Berlin. I've come to Delhi with the first target of winning, I'm not thinking about times too much," added Dibaba.
The ADHM course record of 66:54 was set by Kenya's Mary Keitany in 2009.
Current half marathon world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei said weather conditions would be key in the race on Sunday.
"I'm very happy to be here, it's a privilege to meet Indian people, and I'm looking to run a fast time. Of course, it all depends on the weather and climate," added the diminutive Kenyan who holds the world record of 64:51 set in October 2017.
She missed out competing in India last year after her world record feat but Kenya's star is all geared up to scorch the roads of the national capital this time.
Jepkosgei is the current women's half marathon world record holder with a timing of 1 minute 04.51 seconds, which she clocked while winning in Valencia (Spain) on October 22 last year.
She had planned to run in the 2017 Delhi Half Marathon, which was held on November 19 but later dropped as she had less than a month's recovery time after the world record feat in Valencia.
"Last year, I had planned to run in Delhi but it was held less than one month after Valencia. The recovery time was very less and so I dropped the idea. But this time I am here and I am excited to give my best on Sunday," Jepkosgei said at the sidelines of elite athletes unveiling event.
However it will not be so easy for Jepkosgei's as she will be up against Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, who is arguably the greatest ever woman distance runner in the world in a career spanning more then 15 years.
"It is a tough field on Sunday and it is an honour to be running along with Tirunesh. I don't have any particular time in my mind but I am give my best to win the race and will see the timing according to the race conditions," said Jepkosgei.
The rise of Jepkosgei has been phenomenal as she had started her professional career in 2014-15 only.
Jepkosgei rose to stardom when she broke four world records in a single race in the Prague Half Marathon in April last year. She won the race in then half marathon (21.0975 km) world record time of 64:52. She also set 10K, 15K and 20K world records during that race.
On October 22, she bettered her half marathon world record to 64.51.
Delhi has a reputation as a flat and fast course, demonstrated by the times posted by the leading runners in recent years, and the 14th edition of the ADHM — which has established itself as one of the world's leading races over the distance — is expected to have good running conditions on the race day.
The men's race will see 2016 Olympic marathoners Gopi Thonakal and Nitender Singh Rawat go head-to-head, the former also the 2017 Asian marathon champion and the latter the leading Indian man in last year's ADHM.
The target for both men is not only Rawat's Indian ADHM best of 63:53 set in 2017 but the national record of Bugatha Shrinu from Bhopal in 2016.
"Fifteen years ago, there was no road running culture in India and now we have world record holders and Olympic champions coming here. This is something India can be very proud of," said Vivek Singh, joint managing director of race promoters Procam International.
"The fact that runners like Tirunesh (Dibaba) and Joyciline (Jepkosgei) have chosen the ADHM over the many other race options they had it a great statement for this event and for India," he added.
