Little champions steal the show at steely skyscraper dash

This weekend, four-year-old Jeel Patel’s aim was to make it to the top, literally. This enthusiastic kid took just around 15 minutes to climb 31 floors at the World Trade Center (WTC) Skyscraper Dash event on Sunday.

Even as others tried hard, with a few eventually giving up, Patel made it to the top. He was the youngest participant in the event that was held at the WTC in Bengaluru.

The day was a true test of fitness for many and a fun filled morning for others as they climbed 31 floors of the building, trying to make it in record time.

The competition played out in waves, beginning at 6.30 am and went on till 11.30 am. Participants ran around the Brigade Gateway campus, Sheraton Hotel and Orion Mall covering a distance of 2.5 km.

The dash ended with a run up 850 stairs, all the way to the High Ultra Lounge on the last floor. Over 850 participants took part in the dash.

Most cheers were for the youngsters who made it to the top.

It was the first time for seven-year-old Agastya Dutta, who was seen sipping an energy drink at the end of the dash. His father Ashok Dutta said: “We have run a couple of 5-km marathons and also practised in the Kanteerava Stadium on a regular basis.”
The event, however, caused inconvenience to other visitors to the mall and offices on the premises.

Organisers and volunteers hurriedly forced pedestrians to the edge of the road, while vehicles were kept waiting before making their way into the parking lot.