KP Safe Drive Save Life Half Marathon 2026 will be the Qualifier for the World Masters Athletics Championship

News Desk, News Nation 360 : The Kolkata Police announced that the sixth edition of the Kolkata Police Safe Drive Save Life Half Marathon (KPSDSL) will include a qualifier category in the Half Marathon and 10Km distances for the World Masters Athletics Championships 2026, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea, from August 22 to September 3, 2026. This not only makes the Kolkata Police Half Marathon a celebration of a healthy running ecosystem, but it also serves as a premium competitive objective for athletes over the age of 35, making it one of the most sought-after races in the country. This event, initiated by the Kolkata Police in collaboration with the Transport Department of the Government of West Bengal and promoted by Gamechangerz, will take place on January 18, 2026, with the goal of altering Kolkata's distance running culture. Events of World Masters Athletics are open to men and women aged 35 years and over, with athletes grouped into standard five-year age categories starting from 35-39, then 40-44, 45-49, and so on. The age group for competition is determined by the athlete’s date of birth on the first day of the event. Unless specifically noted (for example, relay teams), athletes compete only in their assigned age groups. Men and women compete separately but within the same age categories. The participation of an athlete requires his or her registration with the national Masters organisation, for instance, the Masters Athletics Federation of India, which undertakes the responsibility of selection and entry into World and Asian Masters Athletics events. The WMA rules require proof of age documentation from the participating athletes, and records and medals in each age division are provided in these competitions to ensure fair competition among peers of similar age. Speaking about the initiative, Manoj Kumar Verma, IPS, Learned Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, stated that every dawn tells them that a megacity is built on two pillars: discipline and compassion. Safe Drive Save Life represents both. It has progressed from a message to a civic habit, and the Half Marathon is living proof. When runners follow the rules and lift one another, they demonstrate to Kolkata the true meaning of shared responsibility.

Pic - Krishnendu Kundu