International triathlon meet in Goa

The first India International Triathlon meet, offering USD 30,000 in prize money, will be held in Goa on February 14 next year and the top attraction is Belinda Granger of Australia.
    
Besides the 38-year-old Belinda, who is a 11-time ironman distance champion (winner of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation), five other international triathletes would take part in the event, said Chandaradev Bhagat, CEO of organisers Grey Matter Entertainment, at a press conference today.
    
Around 200 Indian participants, mainly from the armed forces, would be taking part in the event which is to be run on the Olympic Games format - a 1.5-km open sea swim, 40-km bicycle ride and 5-km run.
    
"This is tougher than a marathon run as the competitors would not have any rest between the segments of the race," said MS Shastri, deputy president of the India Triathlon Federation which is giving logistical support to the event.
    
Swimmer-turned-model Milind Soman said he had taken part in a triathlon 20 years ago in Mumbai and it was difficult to
ride a bike and run five kms after swimming in the open.    

"We will be taking care of the hospitality for the elite triathletes and the rest would have to bear their own expenses. The total expenditure, minus marketing and including prize money, would be around Rs one crore," Bhagat said.