Excitement builds for 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Goa; diverse field and newcomers poised for a thrilling race

As countdown to 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Goa nears its final hours, excitement is at an all-time high among nearly 1200 participants rey to tackle this prestigious triathlon. Starting from Miramar Beach, athletes will face a course consisting of 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling, and 21.1 km of running.

Lok Sabha member, Tejasvi Surya, Founder & CEO Yoska and Race Director IRONMAN 70.3 Goa, India, Deepak Raj, Director, Marketing, Herbalife India, Ganeshan V S, and Race Ambassor and tennis legend Leander Paes will officially flag off event early tomorrow morning. Since its inception, IRONMAN 70.3 Goa has attracted triathletes from over 57 countries, and this fourth edition also welcomes participants from more than 75 towns and cities across India. Among notable athletes are double Olympian swimmer Sajan Prakash and Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya, both aiming to achieve ir personal bests.

Tejasvi Surya participated in 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Goa as part of a relay team, completing 90 km cycling segment. This year, Tejasvi is taking on full distance, competing individually against or triathletes. Meanwhile, Sajan Prakash will be participating in IRONMAN 70.3 Goa relay tomorrow along with teammates Sirish Govardhan (cycling) and Soumya Rout (running).

"I've taken a 3-4 month break from Olympic qualification till now and my friends approached me, asking if I can swim with m. We normally train about 5-6 kilometers per session and this is about 1.9 kilometers and I thought it would be a nice new challenge. Normally we have walls in swimming pool, we turn, we push off, and this will be a little bit challenging when it comes to open water current. It's a pretty decent mid-distance swim, so I'm excited to swim in sea because it's not very usual for us," he explained.

"I went and saw arena and I think it's all perfectly done. I’m gl to know that it is safe since it's my first time swimming in sea. Again, I am pretty excited for tomorrow and I have a feeling we will do well," he ded.
Yasuo Suzuki, a 53-year-old realtor from Tokyo, expressed his excitement, saying, "I have participated in 14 IRONMAN 70.3 events so far, and this will be my 15th. This is first time I am coming to Goa, and I heard that wear this time of year and course are pretty good, so I thought it would make for a good experience. I am planning to finish in top 45 positions and qualify for World Series races."

"I started out weighing about 94 kg and decided to take up running as a hobby. And here I am, challenging myself to IRONMAN for first time. Being from Goa, I always knew that IRONMAN 70.3 is held here, and re was this aspiration to participate. But I was not on healthier side, so re was always that doubt if I would be able to do it. However, you always want to challenge yourself furr. I am looking forward to seeing wher I can get this done. I feel pretty confident with way this thing is set up, I think I'm in safe hands. IRONMAN is a global event, and I think way setup is living up to that name," said Percival O’Nazrit, a 42-year-old resident of Goa, before participating in his first IRONMAN event.

As India's largest triathlon event, this year’s race also features over 120 competitors from Central and State Government services, with women consistently making up 12-15% of athlete base. Remarkably, over 60% of this year’s participants are first-time competitors, underscoring event's significant role in expanding triathlon community in India.

"We are thrilled to see overwhelming enthusiasm for fourth edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Goa. This event has grown in diversity, attracting participants from every corner of India and beyond. It's inspiring to witness so many first-time competitors stepping up to challenge, and ir presence underscores inclusive spirit of triathlon. We have meticulously prepared for tomorrow and are committed to ensuring that every participant has a memorable and seamless experience. We are proud to welcome such a dynamic group of athletes and look forward to an exciting race day," commented Deepak Raj, Founder & CEO Yoska, and Race Director IRONMAN 70.3 Goa, India.

ditionally, IRONKIDS race, catering to 6 to 16 year age group, saw participation from over 600 young athletes this morning, making it one of largest races in this category in India.