Mergia full of confidence ahead of Delhi Half Marathon
New Delhi: Mergia Aselefech of Ethiopia is confident of repeating her last year's winning performance when she runs at Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday.
Mergia is in good form and had participated in a 10-km road race in Bangalore before arriving here.
She said she came early to start her preparations for the 21.097km run.
"I am happy to be back in India, I love the people of the country. The weather is fine here and I am hoping for a good performance like the last year," Mergia, who would be one of the 266 foreigners to take part in the event, said.
Mergia had clocked her personal best timing of 67.48 to finish runner-up at a run in Ras-Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates in February and had also finished third in the World Marathon Championships in Germany early this year.
Mergia will be challenged by Kenyan long-distance runner Mary Keitany, who won the World Half Marathon Championship in England earlier this month with a timing of 1:06.36.
"I am happy to participate in the event. I am in form and would like to carry the momentum of the earlier event," Mary said.
Winner of the Bangalore event, Deriba Merga of Ethiopia would defend the men's title in the event.
Bureau Report