Bishworjit Saikhom reclaims title at 2024 Ironman 70.3 Goa, Yasmin Halawa wins the women’s category, Tejasvi Surya becomes first MP to complete race

Indian Army's Bishworjit Saikhom reclaimed his Ironman 70.3 title at Goa after a two-year gap, completing the superhuman event with a new personal best time of 4:32:04 to finish first.

Saikhom had won the first edition of the Ironman 70.3 in Goa in 2019 with a time of 4:47:47. He was thus highly motivated after failing to win the previous two editions. Meanwhile, in the women's category, Egypt’s Yasmin Halawa finished first with a time of 5:22:50.

The race, which comprises of 1.9km of swimming, 90km of cycling and 21.1km of running, saw nearly 1200 participants take up the challenge. With qualifications for the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand on the line, the participants braved the moderately harsh weather conditions to complete the race.

Notably, the race was flagged off by Leander Paes, the Race Ambassador, who had joined the cause and had previously called it the 'pinnacle of physical and mental fitness'.

Notable members competing in the race were Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya, who scripted history today by becoming the first Member of Parliament to complete Ironman, and Olympic swimmer Srihari Nataraj, who was part of the relay team and gave his team a massive headstart with his swimming capabilities.

Tejasvi had previously participated as part of a relay team in 2022 where he completed 90kms of cycling. After two years of training, Tejasvi etched his name in the record books, completing the race with a time of 8:27:32.

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"The defeats changed my mindset and made me push myself" - Bishworjit Saikhom

Earlier in the race, Saikhom and Laikhuram Singh were neck-and-neck as the lead changed hands during the swimming and cycling legs of the race. However, a quick transition from bike to the road helped Saikhom race ahead. Jaoquin Berral from Spain and Ahmed Iraky from Egypt finished second and third with times of 4:48.09 and 4:49.10, respectively.

“I was motivated after losing the last two times. My coach and the Indian army supported me a lot during this period. I had a rigorous training regime in Pune to make sure that the prize didn’t slip from my fingers this time. The defeats changed my mindset and made me push myself, and I am glad that I have won again. Now the plan is to recover and prepare for the Ironman 70.3 in New Zealand,” Bishworjit said after the race (press release).

The women's category winner, Yasmin Halawa had a comfortable lead right from the cycling stage. A primary school teacher in Egypt, Yasmin revealed that she had knee injuries earlier in the year but managed to pull through, taking it slow in the elevated part of the race. She was joined on the podium by Netherlands’ Karin van Leersum, who posted 5:44:39, and India's Ketaki Sathe, who posted 5:51:05.

“I am feeling very good, very alive. It was a tough race - very humid on the bike and the run - but the aid stations were very helpful. They had a lot of ice, a lot of cold water. This is probably my 14th Ironman event, but it’s the first time I’ve claimed victory, so Goa is my special place,” Yasmin said (press release).