2026

The men's line-up for 2026 includes Merhawi Kesete from Eritrea - Photo: Procam International

Tata Mumbai Marathon/India 2026 : Fast and Fabulous field promises exciting record runs in 2026

By GRR 0

Mumbai, 11 January 2026: In the international sporting circle, any road running race that has existed for more than two decades is considered “historical”. The Tata Mumbai Marathon, which enters its twenty-first year, is now among such races.

As many as eight men and six women who will take the starting line-up on Sunday, January 18, hold personal bests that are superior to the current event records for Mumbai. Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu (2:07:32) and Anchialem Haymanot (2:24:15) have held the event records since 2023.

The Tata Mumbai Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race. The first three finishers in both men’s and women’s categories will receive US$ 50000, $25000 and $15000 from the prize pot of US$ 390,238. In addition, a reward of US$ 15,000 is awaiting those who break the existing event records in their respective categories.

The men’s line-up for 2026 includes Merhawi Kesete from Eritrea, a runner-up here behind his countryman Berhane Tesfay last year. Kesete is the top favourite this time for the title. However, it will not be an easy task, as the field also includes some of the finest marathon runners of our time. Uganda’s 2023 World Champion, Victor Kiplangat, South African Stephen Mokoka, and Ethiopians Bazezew Asmare & Tadu Abate Deme are other hot contenders for the top spot. Another Ethiopian, Tesfaye Demeke, who was lucky to make it to the podium with a third-place finish last year, will also be returning to get better ratings this year.

Asmare holds the fastest time of 2:04:57, recorded four years ago when he finished third in the Amsterdam Marathon, which is a shade ahead of Cherop’s 2:05:00 winning time in the Toronto Marathon in 2019. Kiplangat (2:05:09 – 2022), Deme (2:05:38 – 2023) and Debela (2:05:46 – 2019) as well as another Ethio runner Kelkile Gezahegn (2:05:56 – 2018) are all logged sub-2:06 against their names and make things enjoyable for the top prize among the men. Though Kesete’s best till date remains 2:06:36 (2021), a tactical approach can yield better results in a marathon.

Medina Armino aims for a better place among women:

When Media Deme Armino finished third last year, there was a host of other top-rated runners from Kenya and Bahrain to challenge her all the way. However, this year’s line-up mostly appeared with her country-mates and that will be a remarkable relief for Medina to dream big in Mumbai.

The 2026 women’s field includes three runners near 2:21. Zinah Senbeta clocked a world-class 2:21:05 while winning at Lyubliyana in 2023. Incidentally, her marathon debut started in Mumbai four years earlier, where she finished seventh.

In 2021, Yeshi Chekole posted 2:21:17 to finish third in the Zurich Marathon de Sevilla in Spain. She had another third-place finish (2:23:26) in the Korean city of Incheon, less than three months ago and is in great form at present.

But the fastest among the women’s entries is listed against Shure Demise, who clocked an impressive 2:20:59 in Dubai way back in 2015, which remains a World Best for a Junior (under-20) athlete over this distance so far.

“The calibre of the field at the Tata Mumbai Marathon this year speaks for itself, when eight men and six women on the start line arrive with personal bests faster than our existing event records, it underlines the global standing the race now enjoys,” said Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International.

International Elite Athlete for the TMM 2026-

MEN-

1. Bazezew Asmare Belay	ETH	02:04:57	GOLD Label
2. Victor Kiplangat	UGA	02:05:09	ELITE Label
3. Tadu Abate Deme	ETH	02:05:38	GOLD Label
4. Dejene Debela Gonfa	ETH	02:05:46	ELITE Label
5. Kelkile Gezehegn Woldaregay	ETH	02:05:56	ELITE Label
6. Fikre Bekele Tefera	ETH	02:06:16	ELITE Label
7. Merhawi Kesete Weldemaryam	ERI	02:06:36	ELITE Label
8. Birhan Nebebew Tesfaye	ETH	02:06:52	ELITE Label
9. Leonard Langat	KEN	02:07:49	ELITE Label
10. Amos Kiprotich Kiplagat	KEN	02:07:58	ELITE Label
11. Derara Desalegn Hurisa	ETH	02:08:09	ELITE Label
12. Robert Kipchirchir Mwei	KEN	02:08:56	ELITE Label
13. Shadrack Kibitok	KEN	02:09:00	ELITE Label
14. Demeke Tesfaye Ademe	ETH	02:10:39	ELITE Label
15. Assefa Maru Haile	ETH	02:10:41
16. Kidanemariam Dessie Asfie	ETH	02:11:16
17. Bejamin Kigen	KEN	02:11:55

18. Demisu Anegagreng Gemeda	ETH	01:01:07
19. Humnaol Habtamu Ayalew	ETH	01:02:50

PACERS:

Adam Nathan Lipschitz RSA 02:08:50 ELITE Label
Reuben Kiptoo Rono KEN 01:02:05 ELITE Label
Benard Cheptoch UGA 02:14:06 ELITE Label
Alex Kipkorir Kibarus KEN 02:15:14
Levi Chelangat UGA DEBUT ELITE Label
Yibeltal Gashahun Tilahun ETH DEBUT ELITE Label

WOMEN:

101. Shure Demise	ETH	02:20:59	GOLD Label
102. Zinash Gerado Senbeta	ETH	02:21:05	GOLD Label
103. Yeshi Kalayu Chekole	ETH	02:21:17	ELITE Label
104. Kidsan Alema Gebremedhin	ETH	02:22:28	ELITE Label
105. Birke Debele Beyene	ETH	02:23:19	ELITE Label
106. Gojjam Tsegaye Enyew	ETH	02:24:02	ELITE Label
107. Medina Deme Armino	ETH	02:25:09	GOLD Label

108. Aberash Minsewo Belay	ETH	02:26:06	ELITE Label
109. Zemenay Ayana Demilew	ETH	02:28:07	ELITE Label
			ELITE Label
111. Tigest Worku Anagaw	ETH	02:36:37
112. Asekek Tilaya Ayana	ETH	DEBUT
113. Ayantu Idossa Eshete	ETH	DEBUT

ABOUT TATA SONS

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 31 companies across multiple verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‚To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’.

Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture.

In 2024-25, the aggregate revenue of Tata companies was more than $180 billion. These companies collectively employ over 1 million people.

Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 26 publicly listed Tata companies with an aggregate market capitalisation of more than $328 billion as on March 31, 2025.

ABOUT PROCAM INTERNATIONAL

Since its inception in 1988, Procam International has been the driving force behind the growth and development of sports management in India. Founded by the dynamic Singh brothers Anil and Vivek, Procam is India’s premier sports management company and is involved in live events, sports consultancy, and live television production.

With astute planning and exemplary execution, Procam has a track record of conceptualising and promoting over 100 international events, across the disciplines of Powerboat Racing, Cricket, Football, Tennis, Distance Running, Squash, WWE, Horse Racing, Volleyball, among others. These events have elicited participation of the highest calibre of athletes and huge public interest and attendance.

Pioneers of the distance running movement in India, Procam International’s Big 4 – Tata Mumbai Marathon, Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K and Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata— are global leaders in their respective distances. They have ushered in a running revolution that has helped redefine the health, fitness, and ‘giving’ paradigm of our country.

For more details logo on Website: https://procam.in

For more information, please contact:

Procam International

Neha Kandalgaonkar/ Deepak M Pilankar

neha@procam.in / deepak@procam.in

Concept PR

Abhay Bhow

+91 9892751311

abhay@conceptpr.com

Ram. Murali Krishnan
Running India News Service

Mumbai, 11 January 2026: In the international sporting circle, any road running race that has existed for more than two decades is considered “historical”. The Tata Mumbai Marathon, which enters its twenty-first year, is now among such races.

author: GRR