Ethiopian teenager Andamalak Belihu overcame smog and stiff competition from compatriot Amdework Walelegn in the men’s elite field to win his maiden Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Belihu, who finished second last year, improved on his personal best timing to clock 59m 18 sec. However, he was unable to break the course record of 59m 06s, which still stands in the name of Ethiopia’s Guye Adola, set in 2014.
Walelegn clinched the silver, ending the race with a time of 59m 22s, while Kenya’s Daniel Kipchumba grabbed the third spot clocking 59m 48s.
Among the Indians, Abhishek Pal was the best-placed, clocking 1h 04m 14s. Avinash Sable grabbed the silver with a timing of 1h 04m 14s, while Gopi T claimed the third spot on the podium with 1h 04m 15s.
Thousands of runners brushed off health warnings to compete in the half marathon, even as smog reached unhealthy levels in the world’s most polluted major city.
More than 34,000 runners hit the streets of the Indian capital for the 21-kilometre race that doctors wanted postponed because of Delhi’s atrocious winter smog.
The US embassy website Sunday showed levels of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants reached 199 at race time – eight times the World Health Organisation’s safe maximum.
At such readings, outdoor exertion is strongly inadvisable and doctors warn prolonged exposure can trigger asthma attacks, worsen lung conditions and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Some competitors wore face masks in Sunday’s race but others said conditions appeared better than last year, despite virtually identical pollution readings across the capital on both race days.
Every winter, air pollution in Delhi soars as cooler air traps harmful particles from crop fires, exhaust fumes, construction dust and industrial emissions close to the ground.
Smog has climbed in recent weeks as temperatures have fallen and smoke from burning wheat fields in neighbouring states has reached the capital, mingling with urban pollutants.
The Heart Care Foundation of India had written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to warn the dangers of exposure to such unhealthy levels of smog warranted postponing the race.
But the race went ahead as planned, with organisers using a treated effluent they said would help reduce fine airborne particles along the course.
More than 160 medical staff, including paramedics on bikes, and ambulances were stationed over the course.
The WHO in May listed 14 Indian cities in the world’s top 15 with the dirtiest air, with Delhi dubbed the most polluted major centre.
With inputs from PTI and AFP
