"It is the pinnacle of physical and mental fitness" - Indian tennis legend Leander Paes on the Ironman 70.3 which is all set to be hosted by Goa

Goa will host the fourth edition of Ironman 70.3, India’s largest triathlon event. With registrations being close to 1200 already, it will etch its name in the history books when the participants are flagged off on Sunday.

The triathlon will consist of a 1.9km swim in the Miramar beach waters followed by 90km of cycling through Goa and a 21km run finishing at Miramar beach again. Participants completing this superhuman feat will be awarded with medals. The total distance adds up to 70.3 miles, hence the name Ironman 70.3 has been coined. This is half of an Ironman race, which consists of 140.6 miles being covered.

The race will feature over 120 participants from the government services. The share of women participants will be close to 15 percent while 60 percent of all participants will be first-time competitors. There will be a large international participation in the event, while participants will arrive in Goa from over 75 cities and towns in India.

India's tennis legend Leander Paes has joined the campaign as the race ambassador, boosting the message and vision of the race.

"There are tremendous similarities between the preparation and training of an Olympian and the amount of hard work that goes into even completing an Ironman race. Only 0.0001% of the world's population get to stand on the Olympic podium and I also know completing an Ironman race means you're a champion already,” Paes said.

He added that Goa hosting the race will be instrumental in showcasing the culture and community of the state to the world. With his father hailing from Goa, Leander Paes has a personal connection to the city.

"It is the pinnacle of physical and mental prowess. Ironman 70.3 will celebrate the community, celebrate the culture of Goa. Through events like this, we make the world aware of our culture and community. We also develop athletes with a great quality of life," he added.

"Not just a younger, even a current Leander Paes would also be up for this challenge" - Leander Paes

Paes said that he would be up for the Ironman 70.3 challenge. Having had a career spanning close to 40 years, he thanks his great genetics and hard work for his longevity in the sport.

He also spoke about what inspired him the most when he got into sports, eventually leading to him becoming the first Indian to win an individual medal at the Olympics.

"Not just a younger, even a current Leander Paes would also be up for this challenge. I have been lucky to born with great genetics, thanks to my parents. Individual athletes had not won medals in Olympics prior to me but in the 70s and 80s when I was polishing my parents' trophies and medals, I was very inspired to prove that we Indians could also be world champions in sports," he said.

Race Director of 2024 Ironman 70.3 Goa and Founder & CEO of Yoska - Deepak Raj - who has completed the Ironman challenge multiple times, spoke about how it is a platform for all members of society and not just elite athletes.

"Ironman, India is not just for elite athletes, it’s a platform where anyone with the right mindset and dedication can succeed. With the IronGrit campaign, we will broaden the appeal of Ironman 70.3 Goa," Deepak Raj said.