Ace British middle distance runner and double Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes would visit India in the New Year as brand ambassador for the January 21 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

Holmes, who won a middle distance double (800 and 1500m) at the 2004 Olympic Games, is to arrive in Mumbai a week before the event to promote Asia's biggest marathon through media interactions and partner promotions, besides encouraging participants on race day.

"I am excited to be in Mumbai for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon and hope my presence will inspire young athletes in India to work and train harder," the ace British athlete said of her visit, in a press release.

Holmes, only the third woman in history to record this unique middle distance double at the Olympics [Images], joins an illustrious group of fellow-athletes and other sports persons associated with the event as brand ambassadors over the years like Paul Tergat, Steve Ovett, Michael Johnson, Mike Powell, Linford Christie, Anju Bobby George, Kapil Dev [Images] and Javagal Srinath.