MUMBAI: Records tumbled on a nippy Sunday morning as over 55,000 runners participated in the 18th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.
After a Covid-forced two-year hiatus, Mumbaikars welcomed the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race back with full gusto, countless numbers lining up on the streets around the city to cheer on the runners.
The chilly weather was also perfect for the runners as one of Asia’s most prestigious road races made a smashing comeback with several records broken.
Ethiopia’s Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot won the men’s and women’s event respectively with new course record timings to take home $45,000 winners prize and a course record bonus of $15,000 each.
Among the Indian elite runners, Olympian T Gopi, the first Indian male to win the Asian Marathon Championship in 2017, clocked 2:16:41 seconds to finish on top of the domestic Elites and 10th overall in the 18th edition of the $405,000 prize fund World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
Chavi Yadav pulled off a spectacular victory in the women’s section on her marathon debut in the Mumbai Marathon.
For the first time, the podium finishers in the women’s section finished under 2:25, as Tusa (2:24:22) also finished under the previous course record of 2:24:33 held by Valentine Kipketer (Kenya) since 2013.
All eyes were on Gopi who was returning to competition after three years following knee surgery and the Army runner didn’t disappoint as he clocked 2:16:41, and was followed by Man Singh, who was 17 seconds behind, and Kalidas Hirave.
Gopi fell short of the upcoming Asian Games cut-off of 2:15 but said the win in India’s largest marathon gave him a tremendous boost.
“It felt good to be back after three years. I maintained a good pace for the first 30-odd kilometres but slowed down towards the end,” the Army runner told a news conference. “I never give up,” added Gopi, who previously won in 2018.
The 2020 winner Srinu Bugatha finished fifth in 2:23:05.
Bhopal’s Chavi said she was running the classic distance for the first time. “I didn’t run more than 25 km even in training,” she told a news conference. Arati Patil finished second, over 10 minutes behind, and Renu Singh was third.
The Elite Indian podium finishers were richer by Rs 500,000, Rs 400,000 & Rs 300,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary bettered her course mark in the women’s half marathon and Murli Gavit won the men’s crown. The podium finishers took home Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 & Rs 60,000 respectively.
