VEDANTA DELHI HALF MARATHON (VDHM) on Sunday was a morning to remember, as over 40,500 runners gathered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi for the event’s 20th edition. The city’s streets came alive with participants proudly donning the race’s #BreakingBarriers theme.
Olympic legend Carl Lewis, serving as the international event ambassador, lent his presence and encouragement from the sidelines. He was joined by Olympic bronze medallist and PUMA ambassador Sarabjot Singh and Commonwealth Games medallist Tejasvin Shankar.
Kenya reaffirmed its dominance, securing both men’s and women’s titles, the second time in VDHM’s history this feat has been achieved in the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race. Alex Matata claimed the men’s crown with a time of 59:50, while Lilian Kasait Rengeruk won the women’s race in 1:07:20. Among Indian runners, Abhishek Pal earned his third VDHM title in 1:04:17, and Seema triumphed in the women’s category with a time of 1:11:23.
Behind the scenes, the event’s flawless execution was made possible by over 200 volunteers, 400 healthcare professionals, and the unwavering support of Delhi Police, DMRC, NDMC, and the Delhi Government, which served as an official partner.
Running for a cause
The 2025 edition of VDHM concluded with a powerful message of solidarity under the banner of #RunForZeroHunger, as more than 40,000 runners took to the streets to raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition in India. The initiative supports Nand Ghar, Vedanta’s flagship social impact project, which operates nearly 10,000 centres across 15 states, offering nutrition, healthcare, early childhood education, and livelihood opportunities for women.
Nand Ghar, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is Vedanta’s transformative project providing nutrition, healthcare, and early childhood education for children, alongside skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities for women. With nearly 10,000 Nand Ghars operational across 15 states, the initiative continues to uplift rural communities and ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and every woman leads an empowered life.
For every kilometre run, Vedanta pledged to donate one Poshan Pack to children at Nand Ghar. With an overwhelming response from participants across India, the marathon surpassed its target, achieving over five million Poshan Packs, a symbolic five million kilometres run for zero hunger.
Themovement also extends compassion beyond humanity, supporting The Animal Care Organisation (TACO) to promote the wellbeing of animals.
Across the last three editions, the campaign has facilitated nearly 20 million meals for children nationwide. This year, Vedanta’s 45,000+ employees, CXOs, and partners joined the mission through mini-marathons, walkathons, cycling rallies, and virtual events across India.
Recognised as one of India’s largest platforms for charitable giving, VDHM has raised more than Rs 85 crore for multiple causes over the years.
Gala Night: A Tribute to Two Decades
To commemorate the milestone, Procam International hosted a gala on Friday titled ‘Breaking Barriers – A 20-Year Odyssey’. The evening was a dazzling blend of sport, fashion, and culture, celebrating the marathon’s evolution into a movement of inspiration and inclusion.
The event brought together influential figures from sport, business, and the arts to honour VDHM’s journey. Olympic great Carl Lewis took centre stage once again, this time on the runway, wearing a bespoke couture creation ‘The Halo of Endurance’ designed by Sahil Kochhar. The piece, envisioned as a future auction-worthy artwork, symbolised the endurance, unity, and spirit of Delhi’s running community.
In a heartfelt tribute, trailblazers who have broken barriers in their respective fields also walked the ramp, including:
* Avani Lekhara, Para shooter & India’s only woman with two Paralympic golds (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024)
* A.D. Singh, founder & managing director, Olive Group of Restaurants
* Atul Wassan, former Indian cricketer, Member of India’s 1990-91 Asia Cup-winning squad
* Gaurav Gill, Arjuna Awardee and Triple Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner
* Shama Mohammed, Politician and an advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and education
* Kaamya Karthikeyan, the youngest Indian to summit Mt. Everest and the first female to conquer the Seven Summits challenge by age 16
* Shagun Chowdhury, the first Indian woman to qualify for the trap shooting event at the Olympics (London 2012).
* Namrata Joshipura, fashion designer & marathoner
* Charu Pragya, National TV Panellist for BJP
* Shreepad Shende, chief marketing officer, IDFC First Bank
* Anurag Batra, owner, BW Businessworld & E4M Media Group
* Sivakumar Sundaram, CEO & executive director, Times of India Group
