Rajesh Vetcha is only the second Indian to be elected as board member of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
Rajesh Vetcha, founder of Hyderabad Runners and Race Director of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, has become the first from the running community and the second from India to be elected for a four-year term to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) board. This distinction underscores India’s growing influence in global distance running.
“This is the global recognition accorded to the endurance and road running community in Hyderabad. What his elections mean to the running community is access to information, expertise, and support to local long-distance races and runners who want to qualify to participate in international marathons and also continue to raise the stature of the marathons in India to a global level,” stated an official release on Tuesday.
“As a board member, Rajesh Vetcha was expected to foster and promote distance running throughout the world, work with the World Athletics on all international road racing matters and exchange information, knowledge and expertise among the members of the Association,” it said.
For the record, Mr. Vetcha has been a trailblazer in the Indian running movement, founding Hyderabad Runners in 2007. Under his leadership as its president from 2011 to 2018, Hyderabad Runners transformed into one of the largest running organisations in India. The group institutionalised the running community with a focus on advocacy, training and events, promoting active lifestyles across the country.
“ This is not just a personal achievement but a recognition of the growing prominence of Indian marathons on the global stage. I look forward to furthering the cause of India’s vibrant running ecosystem with insights from the experiences of the races overseas and making the voice of India heard on the global distance running space,” he said.
Published – December 11, 2024 12:38 am IST
