Divya madaiah

The World Athletics Gold Label: The World Athletics Gold Label race, World 10k Bengaluru, is set to return for its 17th edition on April 27. Like every edition, the organisers have roped in 14 women pacers who will lead the way in the Open 10K category. Among them is a new face, 42-year-old Shalu Dudeja who has paced more than 50 events and will be leading the 58-minute bus.

Although Shalu has faced many difficulties in her journey so far, losing her mother soon after her wedding and her father a few years later, she found a new calling in distance running – a happy place which helped her deal with personal loss.

She took to running as a means to not only stay fit but also combat post-delivery health challenges - persistent headaches and body aches, which eventually evolved into a passion that redefined her life and she found both solace and strength in running.