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India’s capital was preparing for a half marathon, but experts warned that the world’s best athletes preparing for Sunday’s event could be at risk in the city of 550,000 cases of Covid-19 and toxic air marked as no. healthy.
Forty-nine elite runners, including the world record holder for women’s marathon Brigid Kosgei Kenia will start the 21-kilometer race that starts from a stadium in the city.
Despite a much-needed breeze on Saturday, pollution levels in smog-laden Delhi were nearly four times higher than what is considered fit to breathe.
Bad cocktail
Organizers insisted that they had taken all precautions for the non-spectator event, but experts such as epidemiologist Preeti Kumar of the Public Health Foundation of India called the conditions a “bad cocktail” for long-distance running.
“The Delhi pollution and their Covid situation is definitely a bad cocktail and they would be putting themselves, the community and their families at risk by participating in this event,” Kumar told RFI.
Kosgei worried
World champion Kosgei acknowledged her concern about the grim situation in Delhi, which has so far reported 550,000 coronavirus cases.
“Covid-19 has definitely affected us. I had to convince my parents and family at home to let me visit Delhi for the half marathon, ”he said, acknowledging that restrictions in Kenya had put spikes in his training.
Delhi authorities have increased cash fines by 400 percent to € 22 for not wearing face masks in public and said they could impose a nightly curfew on the overcrowded city, which has seen some 5,000 new infections daily during the last week.
‘Irresponsible’
Some criticized the organizers for maintaining the half marathon, calling it an “irresponsible” act.
“When pollution levels are high, when it’s colder and there is a Covid pandemic, I think it is totally irresponsible to run a marathon and give people a false sense of security,” RV Asokan of the Indian Medical Association told NDTV. .
The Indian Council for Medical Research, the country’s main clinical research agency, appeared puzzled by the event, which will also see defending champions Andamlak Belihu and Ethiopia’s Tsehay Gemecu.
“They could have prevented it because we have to take care of our health and also of others,” Council spokesman Rajnikanth Srivastava, a scientist, told RFI.
On Sunday, Belihu will compete for a third consecutive heart-stopping title in the Indian capital.
Also on the starting line will be the half marathon world record holder, Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia.
“I come here to show what I can do after finishing fifth in the World Half,” the athlete told reporters as health officials worked with organizers to keep the heavily guarded route safe for famous runners.
Virtual marathon
Hundreds of fans will also participate in the Delhi Half Marathon, but they have been told to run their favorite route and post their timing online.
“I will only be managing a park near my house, as it is also a virtual event,” said a runner.
Almost all sporting events have been suspended in India, which has 9.35 million Covid-19 cases and 136,000 deaths according to the latest tally on Saturday.
Abhinav Brindra, India’s only Olympic gold medalist individual shooter, called it the right move.
“This is a very important step towards the resumption of competitive sport in India,” the 38-year-old star shooter said at a pre-race press conference in the Indian capital.
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