Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS): In a first, the top two Indian elite finishers in both male and female categories of the 2015 Mumbai Marathon here Sunday, will be given an opportunity to train and compete at the prestigious New York City Marathon in November.

The four Indian athletes will be given an all-expenses paid entry at the World Marathon Major along with travel and accommodation by IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which also sponsors the NYC Marathon.

The winners will be put through a specific training programme under the supervision of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) so that they are better equipped to compete with the world's top distance runners in the world's biggest marathon which features at least 50,000 runners each year.

"Through this programme, TCS not only aims to recognise the passion and perseverance of Indian distance runners but also help them raise their game on the global stage," said TCS executive vice-president Ajoy Mukherjee.

"Since top Indian runners use the Mumbai Marathon to qualify for the Olympics and other major international events, rewarding these winners with a chance to compete with the world's elite in New York will help India raise the bar in distance running."