Uganda’s long-distance legend Joshua Cheptegei continued his dominance on the global stage by winning gold in the men’s elite race at the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata 2025 on December 21, 2025.
The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race saw Cheptegei finish in 1:11:49, narrowly outpacing Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania (1:11:56) and Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho (1:11:59).
This victory marked Cheptegei’s debut at the 25km distance, yet he demonstrated his trademark endurance, pulling ahead in the final kilometres to claim the win. The triumph also made it his second victory on Indian soil in 2025, following the TCS World 10K Bengaluru in April.
Reflecting on the year, Cheptegei credited his experiences in Tokyo and Amsterdam for strengthening his marathon skills and achieving a personal best of 2:04:55 in Amsterdam.
He described the Kolkata win as “another building brick towards my next goal” and thanked his family, team, coaches, and fans worldwide for their support.
In the women’s elite race, Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw claimed the top spot with a time of 1:19:36.
Cheptegei, who holds world records in the 5000m and 10,000m, now looks forward to an ambitious 2026, closing out 2025 with another golden performance that reaffirms his status as Uganda’s marathon king.
