Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Sporting Buzz
-
WCL: How to buy Tickets for World Championship of Legends? -
PAK vs NZ Dream11 2nd T20I: Playing 11, Squads, Fantasy Tips & Best Picks -
Pakistan vs New Zealand 2nd T20I: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, T20 Record & Stats -
Most Sixes in IPL 2024: Top 10 Players And Teams To Hit Most Sixes As Of April 20 -
DC vs SRH IPL 2024: Four Batters Who Can Score Most Runs in Match 35 -
Most Wickets In IPL 2024, Purple Cap Holder: Top 10 And Teamwise Top 5 Wicket-Takers On April 20 -
Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE Streaming: Where to Watch FA Cup Semi-Final in India, UK, USA and Other Countries -
Pakistan vs New Zealand: PCB's Failure to Learn Lesson As Fans Continue To Suffer At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium -
LSG vs CSK Memes: MS Dhoni Rules Heart On Twitter While CSK Fans Are Poked Fun At After Another Defeat -
Mauricio Pochettino not expecting a vulnerable Man City in FA Cup semi-final
Bengaluru, August 16: Ethiopian long-distance great Kenenisa Bekele will pursue a third Berlin Marathon victory when he returns to the World Athletics Platinum Elite Label road race to be held on September 26.
The multiple world and Olympic champion had first won in Berlin in 2016, setting what was then an Ethiopian record of 2:03:03.
He then returned in 2019 and won in 2:01:41, reclaiming the Ethiopian record and coming within two seconds of Eliud Kipchoge's world record.
The 39-year-old has raced just once since then, winning at the Big Half in London in 1:00:22 last year. But despite his recent relative lack of racing, he is confident of producing another memorable run in Berlin.
• @KenenisaBekele confirmed for @berlinmarathon
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 14, 2021
• Yimer, Melese, Kiplagat and Mengstu among @bostonmarathon starters
• @BrigidKosgei and @ShuraKitata to defend @LondonMarathon titles
A busy autumn on the roads awaits 🛣
"I'll head back to the BMW Berlin Marathon with good energy and motivation," said Bekele in a statement released by World Athletics.
The Ehiopian had who won the 2009 world 5,000M and 10,000M titles in the German capital.
"My last race in Berlin motivated me a lot, so I hope I will fulfil my plan this year," Bekele added.
The Berlin marathon was not held last year after the govermnet of Germany banned public gatherings of over 5,000 people due to a surge in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic cases.
Tens of thousands of runners take part in the Berlin Marathon each year.
This time the organisers hope that up to 35,000 runners can take part in the event as part of a pilot project as Germany eases COVID-19 restrictions.
Berlin's senate and marathon organisers had outlined a plan in which a half marathon was supposed to be held later this month.
Runners would either have to prove they are fully innoculated or undergo a PCR test as part of a hygiene programme still to be approved by Berlin's health authority.
"There is no certainty that the Berlin Marathon can take place, but the probability is there," said Berlin senator Andreas Geise.
"If the incidence rates continue to fall, approval of the pilot project is conceivable."
A maximum field of 35,000 would be 10,000 down on the 45,000 who took part in the 2019 Berlin marathon.
The official world record for the men's marathon was set in Berlin in 2018 when Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge ran the 42.195kms (26.2mi) in two hours, 1:39 minutes.
The top three fastest race times for the men's marathon have all been run in Berlin.
