Over 5000 participate in first edition of Tata Steel Joda Run-a-thon

Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel, in association with the Odisha Athletic Association, hosted the first edition of the Joda Run-a-thon in Joda.

The event took place at the Central Playground and had the theme ‘Run for a Greener Tomorrow’.

The event was flagged off by Minakshi Mahanta, MLA, Champua, Dr Jagadish Prasad Sahoo, Chairman, Joda Municipality, DB Sundara Ramam, Vice-President (Raw Materials), Tata Steel, Atul Kumar Bhatnagar, General Manager (OMQ), Tata Steel, and Surbhi Bhatnagar.

More than 5,000 participants took part in the Run-a-Thon, with a large crowd gathering to cheer on the runners and support their sporting spirit. The run was organized in three main categories: 10K and 7K for men and women aged 15 years and above, and 5K for boys and girls under the age of 16. Additionally, a special 2K run was organized for persons with special abilities to ensure inclusivity.

The total prize money pool for all categories amounted to Rupees Five Lakh Sixty-Seven Thousand (Rs 5,67,000/-). Mohan Saini from Uttarakhand emerged as the winner in the 10km men’s category, while Tansi Singh from Uttar Pradesh claimed victory in the female category.

Registrations for the Run were done both online and offline, resulting in a significant turnout for the event. In line with their commitment to sustainability and a greener future, Tata Steel announced that they would plant a sapling for each participant.

Tata Steel has been actively promoting fitness and sports engagement through various runs such as the Jamshedpur Run-a-thon, Tata Steel Kolkata 25K Run, Bhubaneswar Half Marathon, and Noamundi and Meramandali Run-a-thon across their operating locations. The company has also established academies for football, archery, athletics, hockey, and sport climbing as part of their dedication to promoting sports in India.