The 21st edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Race, will be flagged off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus early Sunday morning, with an elite field set to compete alongside a record participation of over 69,000 runners.
The marquee full marathon will be the centrepiece of the event, with top international and Indian athletes vying for honours and a share of the total prize purse of $389,524.
Promoted by Procam International, the race will also feature a revamped course, with the iconic Mumbai Coastal Road included for the first time along with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, offering runners sweeping views of the Arabian Sea.
In the men’s international elite race, Eritrea’s Merhawi Kesete (personal best 2:06:36), runner-up in Mumbai last year, starts as one of the favourites. He will face stiff competition from Uganda’s 2023 world champion Victor Kiplangat (2:05:09), Ethiopia’s Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57), Tadu Abate Deme, Tesfaye Demeke and Kelkile Gezahegn in what promises to be a high-quality contest.
Indian interest in the men’s race will be led by Man Singh, the 2025 Mumbai Marathon runner-up and the third-fastest Indian marathoner ever, along with two-time champion Srinu Bugatha and Hyderabad Marathon winner Anish Thapa.
In the women’s international elite field, Ethiopia’s Shure Demise, the fastest entrant with a personal best of 2:20:59, headlines a strong line-up that includes Zinah Senbeta and Yeshi Chekole. Among Indian women, Nirmaben Thakor will be aiming for a historic hat-trick of Mumbai Marathon titles, facing competition from former champions Jyoti Gawate and Lalita Babbar.
The elite marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m., following the amateur and half-marathon races earlier in the morning, as Mumbai once again turns into a global running hub for a day.
Published – January 17, 2026 06:49 pm IST
