Kelai confident of defending crown

Defending champion John Kelai of Kenya, who clocked 2 hours 12 minutes and 27 seconds last year, on Thursday expressed confidence of defending his crown in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, which will be run on Sunday.

He was quick to add that he is looking to set a new record this time.

Kelai and fellow-Kenyan Rono Daniel, who won the event in 2006, said the Kenyan marathoners faced a lot of problems in their preparation for the run due to the ongoing crisis in their country.

"If there is no peace, then the concentration is divided. However, we are prepared for the run and all set for a win," Kelai said.

The two runners were accompanied by Ethiopian Mulu Seboka. The 2005 and 2006 women's champion said she is looking to better her previous years' timings and finish within two-and-a-half hours.

Daniel felt the marathon should help him in his preparations the Olympics and the race at Rotterdam in April.

"It will be a good experience before the big event in Beijing since both these races are held in the Asian continent," said Daniel.

Talking about the weather conditions in Mumbai, Daniel said the conditions are very humid as compared to other places in the world and the runners will have to conserve energy in order to finish high up in the 42-kms race.

Around 30,000 runners are expected to participates in the run, which will be flagged off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal in south Mumbai, will start with the half marathon (21 km) at 6:45 am, followed by the Marathon (42 km), after which events like the Wheelchair event, Senior Citizens Run and Dream Run (7 km) will be flagged off.

Photograph: From left: Rono Daniel Kipkurgat (Kenya),Winner SCMM 06, Marashet Jimma from Ethiopia, Seyfu Mulu Seboka (Winner of SCMM 06,07)