Wildlife protection takes centre stage as Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon returns to Dhenkanal

The third edition draws over 5,500 runners, marks Amar Shaheed Baji Rout’s birth centenary, and awards ₹9.46 lakh in prize money

Dhenkanal, January 10, 2026: The third edition of the Tata Steel Kapilash Half Marathon was organised at Kapilash, Dhenkanal, bringing wildlife conservation into focus as over 5,500 runners participated from 14 states across the country. Held in association with the District Administration, Dhenkanal and the Odisha Athletic Association, the event took place in the buffer zone of the Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary under the theme “Run to Protect Wildlife”.
The half marathon was flagged off by Shri Krushna Chandra Patra, Hon’ble Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Science and Technology Departments, Government of Odisha, along with Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services and Odia Language Literature and Culture Departments, Government of Odisha. Addressing the gathering, Shri Krushna Chandra Patra emphasised the need for collective responsibility in protecting biodiversity, with particular reference to elephant conservation. He appreciated the district administration and Tata Steel for extending the scope of the event beyond physical fitness.

Shri Suryabanshi Suraj highlighted the role of such initiatives in encouraging a healthy lifestyle and instilling a sense of responsibility among the youth. He noted that large scale participation reflects growing public awareness around fitness and environmental causes.
The event witnessed international participation for the first time, with Ms Elina Tarasova from St Petersburg, Russia joining the run. Several public representatives were present, including Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan, Hon’ble MLA, Parjang, Smt Simarani Nayak, Hon’ble MLA, Hindol, Shri Satrughan Jena, Hon’ble MLA, Kamakyanagar, and Shri Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Hon’ble MLA, Angul.

Senior officials in attendance included Mr Ashish Ishwar Patil, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate, Dhenkanal, Mr Abhinav Sonkar, Superintendent of Police, Dhenkanal, Mr Sumit Kumar Kar, Divisional Forest Officer, Dhenkanal, Mr D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel, Mr Sudhir Kumar Mehta, Vice President Operations, Tata Steel Meramandali, and Mr Sandeep Dhir, CEO, Tata Steel Technical Services Limited.
Congratulating the participants and winners, Mr D B Sundara Ramam said that wildlife protection is a responsibility owed to future generations and that the half marathon has evolved into a movement beyond fitness. He also noted that the 2026 edition marked the birth centenary of Amar Shaheed Baji Rout, India’s youngest freedom fighter, with the event paying homage to his courage and sacrifice.

In the competitive categories, Panchanan Bera from West Bengal won the men’s 21 kilometre race, while Bharti Nain from Haryana secured the women’s 21 kilometre title. A total prize money of ₹9.46 lakh was awarded across categories.
Mr Sudhir Kumar Mehta stated that the Kapilash Half Marathon reinforces the importance of community driven action in protecting natural ecosystems and noted that the event has been organised for three consecutive years in partnership with the district administration.

The race route was certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and incorporated international standard timing and tracking systems, including radio frequency chips, split timing mats, and monitoring cameras. Multiple industry partners and regional organisations supported the event, while students from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal assisted with digital amplification across social media platforms.

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