A keen contest is waiting to unfold at this year's Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on November 1 with some of the best athletes in long distance running signing up for the prestigious event.

Two of the top contenders in the women's elite arrived in the Capital on Thursday. Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia, winner here in the last edition, has already won a title in India at the Bangalore 10k run in May. Pushing her hard will be Kenya's Mary Keitany, credited with clocking the fastest time in 2009 (66.36, her personal best also) at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championship in Birmingham during October this year. "I am happy to be back in India. The weather looks good and I am looking forward for a repeat performance," said Mergia.

Keitany, who gave birth to a baby last year, will derive confidence from the fact that she was inside the world record at the 15 km mark in Birmingham. The track was also tougher there compared with the flat one in Delhi.

Known for her aggressive style towards the later half of the race, Keitany would want to finish ahead of Mergia, to whom she lost in Bangalore.

Aslefech, on the other hand, will have a personal battle on her hands as she tries to go beyond her personal best which she clocked this year (67.48) at Ras-Al-Khaimah. She won the last edition with 68.17.

While the focus is on these two, others who will vie for a podium finish includes 19-year-old Ethiopian Abebu Gelan, Kenyan Rose Kosgei and Azerbaijan's Marie Ibrahimova.