The Goa Ironman 70.3, the endurance sporting extravaganza, just got bigger in its second edition after 2019 when the first one was held.
This time around 1450 athletes, including relay teams, are participating in the event, which involves 1.9 kilometres of open water sea swimming, 90 kms cycling and 21 kms running.
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Yoska co-founder and CEO, Deepak Raj, informed that the participants' registration growth is 30 per cent this time and athletes from 33 different countries are participating.
At the event, which is being held on Sunday (November 13, 2022), a large number of volunteers, around 700 of them, will be stationed to ensure that athletes face no issues of any kind on the race day.
Deepak, who is also the race director and a leading ironman himself, said the event will see 73 servicemen at the starting line. Ironman 70.3 is keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India movement, he added.
CEO Ironman Asia, Jeff Edwards, who travelled all the way from Singapore to be present at the media briefing, was all praise for the excitement surrounding the event. The increasing registrations go to show that the sport is growing in the country, he said.
This is the first time Herbalife Nutrition is partnered with Bangalore-based Yoska. Uday Prakash, VP (Finance & Operations), Herbalife said, "My company, which has a track record of 40 years in helping people improve their health and well-being, is excited to be a part of Ironman Goa."
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, who made a late entry at the press conference, said Goa as a sports destination is part of the state's vision document. Ironman Goa will certainly boost Goa's image as a sports tourism destination, he added.
Meanwhile, athletes from India and across the world have started arriving in Goa to take part in the endurance sporting event and are acclimatising themselves in the sea at Miramar where the swimming course is set.
While the main event is slated for Sunday, Saturday will see Iron kids slogging it out in the three disciplines - swimming, cycling and running.
