Ugandans looking for wins at the TCS World 10K in Bengaluru

There’s a quiet confidence about the Ugandan camp heading into Sunday’s 18th edition of the TCS World 10K in Bengaluru, and it’s not difficult to see why.

Defending champion Sarah Chelangat returns not only as the athlete to beat, but perhaps in better condition than when she claimed the title a year ago. Speaking to the media ahead of the World Athletics Gold Label race, Chelangat was direct: last year’s victory came under less-than-ideal circumstances.

“I am feeling fully fit when compared to last year,” she said. “I won the 2025 title despite a back injury. I recovered fast and am ready to clock a better time to retain my crown.”

If that assessment proves accurate, the women’s race could tilt quickly in her favour.

Alongside her, Harbert Kibet represents the next wave of Ugandan distance running—talent forged not in structured training environments, but through necessity. His story is familiar across East Africa: long daily runs to and from school, in his case roughly 20 kilometres with books strapped to his back, quietly building the aerobic engine that now places him among the world’s emerging 10K specialists.

That engine was on full display earlier this year in Castellón, where Kibet clocked 26:39—a time that undercuts the Bengaluru course record by nearly a minute. It’s a performance that naturally elevates expectations.

“I am in good shape and eagerly looking forward to winning the race on Sunday,” he said, offering little in the way of hedging.

Kibet has already stepped onto the global stage, representing Uganda at both the 2024 World U20 Championships in Lima and the senior World Championships in Tokyo. The trajectory is clear: Commonwealth Games selection this year, and an eye firmly fixed on Los Angeles 2028.

Still, this is far from a two-athlete narrative.

The men

Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera returns as one of the most compelling figures in the men’s field. The 26-year-old has methodically built a résumé across the roads, setting national records from 5K through the half-marathon. His recent 58:16 victory in Prague underscores both range and form.

“My body is in very good shape,” said Kwizera, who finished second here in 2023. “I’ve been training hard and have been waiting to come back to Bengaluru. On Sunday, I want to go for a course record.”

Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida, also 26, brings a different profile—track credentials blended with road ambitions. With a 10K best of 26:54 and silver medals from the 2024 African Games and Championships over 10,000 metres, his pedigree is unquestioned. But Bengaluru presents a familiar challenge.

“I am not used to it being as hot as it is right now,” Dida admitted. “But since we are starting early in the morning, it could be good.”

His longer-term focus remains the half-marathon, with Valencia on the horizon, though his competitive instinct remains unchanged: “I want to be very fast in any event.”

The women

In the women’s race, Chelangat won’t have it her own way.

Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir arrives in strong form, highlighted by a 29:25 personal best in Valencia earlier this year—one of the faster performances globally in 2026. Comfortable over the distance and training out of Nakuru, she appears well-positioned to challenge.

“It is my favourite distance,” she said. “I am pleased with my shape coming into the race.”

Her ambitions extend beyond Bengaluru, with a possible shift toward the 5K on the roads and, potentially, a Commonwealth Games berth.

Ethiopia’s Fantaye Belayneh adds further depth. A World Championships finalist over 5,000 metres in Tokyo, she has spent recent seasons focusing on the half-marathon. With a 10K best of 30:00, she remains a formidable competitor—particularly if conditions cooperate.

And that may ultimately be the deciding factor. Bengaluru’s heat is rarely a neutral player. For some, it is manageable. For others, it completely reshapes the race.

For now, though, the narrative is straightforward: Uganda arrives with momentum, belief, and two athletes capable of delivering a sweep. Whether Chelangat and Kibet can convert that optimism into results will unfold over 10 kilometres on Sunday morning.

The athletes

TCS WORLD 10K BENGALURU 2026 ELITE LINE-UP

Live Telecast

The TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2026 will be telecast live on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 1 HD on Sunday, April 26, from 5:15 AM onwards, bringing the race-day action to viewers across the country.