Bekele to run Paris marathon

Paris: Ethiopia`s Kenenisa Bekele, one of the all-time great long-distance runners, will take part in this year`s Paris marathon on April 6, race organisers announced on Thursday.

Triple Olympic champion and five-time world champion over 5,000m and 10,000m, including double triumphs at the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 worlds, Bekele has struggled in the last three seasons with injuries. The world record holder over 5,000m and 10,000m, Bekele had expressed a desire to follow in the footsteps of legendary compatriots Abebe Bikila and Haile Gebreselassie and take the step up to marathon running. Bekele, 31, has also won 11 world cross-country titles.