The long-distance running legend will for the first time compete in a 25K race. Bekele's best 25K effort is 1:12:47, an intermediate time en route to winning the Berlin Marathon 2016.
The existing 25K world record is held by Kenya's Denis Kimetto (1:11:18 in 2012).
"After my first visit to India a few years ago, as an ambassador for the Delhi Half Marathon, I have always been wanting to run here. I look forward to running in Kolkata and hope my presence motivates people to come and run," Bekele said in a statement.
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