Twenty all-women relay teams will participate in the IRONMAN 70.3 Goa race in Panaji on Sunday, November 13. This is part of the “Women in Sport” initiative of Yoska, organisers of the IRONMAN 70.3 race in collaboration with the Brigade Foundation, Bengaluru, which has enabled free enrollment of these women's relay teams.
The IRONMAN 70.3 race will see triathletes, both women and men, complete a tough 113 km course comprising 1.9 km of sea swimming, 90 km cycling and 21 km running within the stipulated eight and half hours.
In a media release issued in the city on Tuesday, Deepak Raj, leading IRONMAN triathlete and Yoska founder, said, “At Yoska, we are always looking to encourage female athletes and women to get into the sport. To promote inclusion, empower women and ensure greater participation of women athletes for the second edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Goa race, we decided to launch this and provide free registrations.”
According to Raj, the Yoska team has worked tirelessly to seek interest from swimmers, cyclists and runners from across India and then create the all-women relay teams.
Nirupa Shankar, a trustee of Brigade Foundation which has helped support ten women’s relay teams, said, “Brigade has been a staunch supporter of the sport.
By encouraging women in sport, we are also enhancing their quality of life in terms of allowing them to pursue their dreams and achieve greater heights.”
Aarathi Swaminathan, one of Yoska’s IRONMAN certified women coaches and driver of the “Women in Sport” initiative, said, “The initiative is to give more women an opportunity to explore, experience and excel.”