At 5 a.m. this Sunday, close to 60,000 people will gather at CSMT to push their bodies beyond limits. The TATA Mumbai Marathon, one of Asia’s largest and most iconic road races, is an incredible test of stamina — one that I would've survive for longer than 10 minutes. It's a celebration of the boundless human spirit. From South Bombay to Bandra, the city's streets become witness to perseverance and triumph. From seasoned athletes to first-timers, everyone's daring to do even better.
Marathon running, once considered a niche pursuit in India, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent decades. Historically, India’s presence in long-distance running on the global stage was sparse, with few athletes achieving international acclaim. However, that's now changing with running becoming accessible to a far broader audience than ever before.
Yet, marathon running is a sport that demands more than physical fitness. It requires mental toughness, strategic training, and an environment conducive to performance. For Indian athletes, the journey is often fraught with challenges — from inadequate infrastructure to a lack of world-class training facilities. Despite these hurdles, India has produced some truly exceptional marathoners. Here are some of them:
Shivnath Singh is a trailblazer whose legacy continues to inspire. Born in Bihar in 1946, he represented India at the 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Olympics, competing against the world’s best. In 1978, he clocked a remarkable 2:12:00 in Jalandhar, setting a national marathon record that remains unbroken to this day.
Born in 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, Ram balanced his duties as a havildar in the Army with a passion for running. His breakthrough moment came at the 2012 Mumbai Marathon, where he clocked 2:16:59 to qualify for the London Olympics. This achievement made him the second Indian marathoner to qualify for the Olympics.
Sudha Singh, a native of Uttar Pradesh, is one of India’s most versatile long-distance runners. Her achievements include multiple medals at the Asian Championships, where she secured silver medals in 2009 and 2011. Sudha’s speciality lies in the 3000m steeplechase, a particularly demanding event. Her selection for the 2012 London Olympics cemented her status as one of India’s premier athletes.
Lalita's career began in 2005 at the U-20 National Championships in Pune and at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, she won a bronze medal. In 2015, she clocked her personal best marathon time of 2:38:21, a performance that established her as a particularly formidable competitor.
From Kerala, Gopi’s marathon journey began in Mumbai, where he participated as a pacer in the 2016 edition of the city’s race. His exceptional performance that year qualified him for the Rio Olympics. In 2017, he became the first Indian to win the Asian Marathon Championships.
An army man through and through, Nitendra’s running career milestones include representing India at the 2016 Rio Olympics. His qualification came through the 2016 Mumbai Marathon, where he finished with a time of 2:15:48. He also achieved a time of 2:18 at the South Korean World Military Games, and participated in the IAAF World Championships in 2019.
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