1st 'ekiden' road race event held in India

About 1,000 participants formed mixed teams of four, each including at least one runner from Japan and one from India, to compete in the 10-kilometer race held near New Delhi.

The event was organized by an executive committee led by Japanese sporting goods maker Asics Corp.

The running population is growing in India, home to more than 1.4 billion people, according to an Asics official.

Asics established a subsidiary in India in 2012 and now operates about 130 franchise stores in the country, reporting brisk sales.

Participant Tanya Able, 21, said that the race was an interesting and good experience, although physically demanding.

Able works for a company that supports Japanese firms expanding into India.

Seeing her Japanese colleague run powerfully, she said she appreciated the effort and felt the experience brought them closer.

Keiichi Ono, Japan's ambassador to India and a running enthusiast, also participated in the event.

With next year marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Ono said he hopes the participants will "pass the sash" on to future events and beyond.