Kannur Beach Run 2025 Set for Thrilling Showdown with Elite Ethiopian Runners

Add as a preferred source on Google

The eighth edition of the Kannur Beach Run is gearing up for an electrifying contest as six elite Ethiopian runners arrive in Kerala to compete.

Invited by Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, a global healthcare entrepreneur and mentor of the event, these world-class athletes will elevate the competition and inspire Indian runners to strive for international excellence. Scheduled for February 23 at Payyambalam Beach, Kannur, the event continues to grow as a premier sporting spectacle, attracting top-tier talent and fostering a culture of distance running excellence.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Health, has been a key supporter of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce in organizing the Kannur Beach Run for the past eight years. His unwavering support has helped raise the event's stature, promote its growth, and increase participation year after year. This year's race will feature three male and three female Ethiopian runners, each with outstanding international long-distance running credentials. Their personal bests in half marathons and 10km races approach world-class standards, making their participation a major highlight.

In the men's category, Mehari Berhanu, winner of the Addis Ababa Half Marathon and Ethiopia Great Run, will headline the race alongside Kebede Negash, Assala Half Marathon Champion and runner-up at the Ethiopian National Cross Country Championship. Teshome Daba Bulesa, a strong contender in Swiss road races, will add further depth to the competition.

The women's race promises fierce competition as well, with Milkitu Meluta, winner of the Oromia Championship, leading the pack. She will be joined by Meseret Diriba, who secured third place in the Ethiopian National Cross Country Championship, and Bekelu Abebe, a standout performer in the Rabat Half Marathon and Addis Ababa races.

Kannur Beach Run 2025 will feature Kerala's highest prize money for a half-marathon, with an increased prize purse. Winners in both the men's and women's categories will receive ₹1,30,000, while second-place finishers will take home ₹85,000, and third-place winners will earn ₹40,000. The event will include multiple race categories- a 21.1 km Half Marathon, a 10 km run, and a 3 km health awareness run- ensuring broad participation from professional athletes and amateur running enthusiasts alike.

Welcoming the elite international runners, AK Mohammed Rafeeque, Joint Secretary of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce, stated, "The participation of elite international runners is a defining moment for the Kannur Beach Run 2025. With increased prize money and heightened competition, we aim to attract more top-tier athletes and solidify this event as one of India's premier running races. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil for his visionary leadership and support in elevating the event. His continued efforts to position North Malabar as a hub for endurance sports have been instrumental in shaping the event's growing prominence on the global stage."