The Delhi Half Marathon promises to be a thrilling event, with world-class athletes like Cheptegei and Jepchirchir vying for top honours and Indian stars eager to make their mark.
Uganda’s Olympic 10,000m champion, Joshua Cheptegei, is set to lead the elite field at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM), a prestigious World Athletics Gold Label race scheduled for October 20. Fresh off his gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Cheptegei will make a return to India, a country that played a significant role in his international career.
Cheptegei, who holds the world records for the 5,000m and 10,000m races, recently retired from track events and is now focused on marathon running. The Ugandan sensation, who clocked a record-breaking 26:43.14 in Paris, is also a three-time world champion in the 10,000m and has made history as one of only ten men to simultaneously hold the 5,000m and 10,000m world records. His return to India for the VDHM comes a decade after his international debut at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru in 2014, where he finished second.
“This country holds a special place in my heart,” Cheptegei said. “It’s been a good season for me, and I am certainly looking at a course record at the VDHM. The energy and passion of the Indian running community is truly inspiring.”
Peres Jepchirchir leads Women’s contingent
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir will lead the field. A former world record holder in the half marathon, Jepchirchir is no stranger to success. She won the 2024 London Marathon in an impressive 2:16:16, breaking the world record for a women-only marathon. With victories in the 2021 New York City and 2022 Boston Marathons, Jepchirchir is a force to be reckoned with at the VDHM.
Indian Contenders: Abhishek Pal and Kavita Yadav
India will also have strong representation at the marathon. Defending champion Abhishek Pal, who recently won the 10,000m title at the 2024 National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru, will lead the Indian men’s challenge. Pal faces tough competition from Kartik Kumar, the 2023 VDHM silver medallist and Hangzhou Asian Games 10,000m silver medallist.
In the women’s category, defending champion Kavita Yadav is expected to battle it out with Sanjivani Jadhav, an Asian Championships bronze medallist. Jadhav has a strong record at the VDHM, having won gold in 2018 and 2022.
Prize Money and Special Rewards: Delhi Half Marathon
The VDHM offers a total prize pool of $260,000, attracting top talent from around the globe. In addition, all registered half marathon participants will receive a race day tee. PUMA, the official sports partner, will also provide a special finisher tee to the top 1500 finishers in both the men’s and women’s 10K races.
The Delhi Half Marathon promises to be a thrilling event, with world-class athletes like Cheptegei and Jepchirchir vying for top honours and Indian stars eager to make their mark.
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