In the global running community, any race held for 20 or more years has a significant place in history. The Tata Mumbai Marathon, first held in 2004, is celebrating its twentieth edition this Sunday (19 Jan).
A World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, the Tata Mumbai Marathon has served as a memorable platform for some globally acclaimed commence their success stories. Incidentally, South African Hendrik Ramaala, winner of the inaugural edition here in 2004, went on to win the popular New Yark marathon later that year. The race has also helped many athletes to qualify for the World championships and Olympic Games on several occasions.
This Sunday’s race will witness last year’s champions from Ethiopia, Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo, trying to emulate their 2024 wins again. Interestingly, Berhanu will try an unprecedented hat trick this year. If successful, it will be a first in the race’s history.
Lemi Berhanu who is eyeing a historic hat-trick this year is ready to go, “My preparation for the Mumbai Marathon has been excellent, especially after Beijing. I’ve been focused on training and am aiming for my third win this Sunday. I have good experience with this course, and I believe my preparation gives me an advantage. I always listen to my coach and manager, following their program without deviation. Their guidance and my patience have been key to my progress. I’ve waited a long time for this moment, and I’m confident in delivering a strong performance on Sunday.”
Bazezew Asmare who was carrying a minor injury in his last marathon said, “I ran my last marathon with a small injury, but now I’m fully fit and well-prepared for Sunday. If I get a good result here, it will be a step forward in my career. Representing my country, Ethiopia, is my ultimate goal, and I believe a strong performance in Mumbai can help me move closer to that dream.”
The duo is joined by Kenyan Philemon Rono, a three-time winner in Mumbai, and three other Elite runners: Bazezew Asmare in the men’s section, Shitaye Ehete, and Shuko Gemeo in the international elite athletes press conference held today. While the above three runners originated from Ethiopia, Eshete migrated to Bahrain, representing her adopted country internationally.
Shitaye Eshete speaking at the press conference said, “I started running at a very young age and eventually joined the national team, which deepened my love for the sport. I’ve always enjoyed running, and I have a strong track background, including finishing sixth in the 10,000 meters at the London race. While I enjoyed competing on the track, I’ve shifted my focus to marathons because there are more opportunities to earn and achieve success in road racing. Transitioning to marathons has been a learning experience. I’ve realized that success in this discipline requires a lot of mileage and consistent long-distance training. By focusing on high mileage and preparation, I believe I can achieve great results in marathons.”
Rono was not in good shape last season, but confident of a comeback this time. Berhanu revealed he is in fine form and looking for another memorable victory.
Talking about his preparations for the marathon, Philemon Rono said, “I’ve prepared meticulously for this race and feel focused despite running a marathon just six weeks ago. Running for Kenya is both an honor and a challenge, with fierce competition and a dynamic qualifying process. My primary focus on Sunday is winning, as strong performances pave the way for representing Kenya on the world stage, including the World Championships in Tokyo next year—a dream I’m determined to achieve.”
Meanwhile Shuko Genemo, who will be eyeing a Gold this year, said, “I returned to Mumbai because I know the course well and had a good result here before. I’ve been training with my partner, and we’ve worked very hard under a serious coach who has a unique philosophy. I’m in great shape now and confident that all the effort we’ve put in will lead to a strong performance. Hard work is the most important thing, and I believe it will pay off.”
Aberash Minsewo, who won her maiden marathon in Mumbai last year, which remained her only race at that distance, is confident of getting another title. Age is on her side as the 23-year-old Ethiopian is all set to take the challenge from her countrymates at ease. The experienced Eshete and the dark horse Genemo may have other ideas to pull a surprise on the race day. Speaking ahead of the race day, Minsewo said, “Last year was a learning curve, but now I feel much more prepared, and that has made a big difference. My preparation this year has been very strong, and I’m feeling confident about the race on Sunday. I know the course well, and I believe that will help me get a good result. When I first came to India, I didn’t know what to expect, but now I feel ready to deliver a great performance.”
The first three finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories will receive USD 50,000, $25,000, and $15,000 from the prize pot of USD 389,524. A reward of USD 15,000 also awaits those who break the existing event records in their respective categories. Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu (2:07:32) and Anchialem Haymanot (2:24:15) have held the event records since 2023.
