~ Over 600 children participate in India’s first standalone kids’ run ~
Bengaluru, 2 June 2025: The Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru came alive with energy and enthusiasm on June 1, 2025, as over 600 children participated in the highly anticipated Policybazaar IRONKIDS Bengaluru—India’s first standalone IRONKIDS event. Organized by the globally renowned IRONMAN triathlon brand, this one-of-a-kind race gave children aged 6 to 16 a platform to embrace fitness, competition, and camaraderie in a vibrant, supportive environment.
The event, flagged off by retired Col. Jangvir Lamba, former Olympian Nisha Millet, former President of HealthifyMe Saurabh Aggarwal, and Vijayaraghavan Venugopal, Co-founder and CEO of Fast&Up, was an overwhelming success, with young runners dashing to the finish line across three age-based categories: a 1km run for 6-8-year-olds, a 2km challenge for 9-12-year-olds, and a 3km endurance test for 13-16-year-olds. From first-time racers to seasoned young athletes, the event brought together a spirited community that celebrated movement, health, and fun.
“The atmosphere at the inaugural IRONKIDS Bengaluru race was electric. It was incredible to see the enthusiasm of the kids and the encouragement from their parents, who are clearly invested in building active lifestyles for their children. The event also saw strong participation from schools across the city, with students turning up in large numbers to represent their institutions and cheer each other on. It was a milestone for the future of youth fitness in India. This is just the beginning. We’re committed to taking IRONKIDS to more metros and cities across India, and building it into a nationwide movement for the next generation,” said Deepak Raj, CEO of Yoska.
Among the many heartwarming stories was the participation of 45 children from Home of Faith, a charitable trust working with underprivileged youth. Sponsored by Policybazaar, these children joined the event with wide smiles and enthusiastic strides, embodying the inclusive spirit of IRONKIDS.
Shaini, a campus coordinator at Home of Faith commented on the event saying, “I’m very grateful for IRONKIDS and Policy Bazaar for making this happen. When I see my kids, girls and boys, I’m so excited to see them participating and making memories. And this will help the get an idea how active they should be and how they have to maintain their fitness for the next event.”
14-year-old Arnav Kashyap from Bengaluru showed up at the IRONKIDS race with his neighbour, driven by a simple but powerful goal—to experience the thrill of crossing the finish line. Inspired by his father’s friend, Col. Jangvir Lamba, a two-time IRONMAN 70.3 finisher, Arnav was determined to chase that same sense of accomplishment.
“Lamba uncle took up the IRONMAN and finished it. So, I just wanted to feel the rush you get when you finish the race and I finally did it myself today. Out of 5 stars, I would give IRONKIDS a 5. Because I can’t really participate in the adult marathons, because they’re slightly longer for me. After this experience I hope to this this forward and prepare for the IRONMAN in a few years,” he explained.
With its electrifying debut, IRONKIDS Bengaluru has set the stage for future races across India, aiming to nurture a generation of active, confident, and community-minded young individuals.
