●        Races Flagged Off by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd. and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., and Harmanpreet Kaur Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team and International Brand Ambassador for VPCHM 2025.

Bengaluru, December 01, 2025: The 10th edition of the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon (VPCHM) concluded today in Jaipur, showcasing an extraordinary display of community spirit and determination. Almost 15,000 runners participated in support of Vedanta’s #RunForZeroHunger movement, raising 1 lakh Poshan Packs for children at Nand Ghars, the company’s flagship social impact project working to ensure a nourished and healthy future for children by transforming anganwadis across India. Under the initiative, each kilometre run by participants translated into one Poshan Pack or nutritious supplement for children at Nand Ghars.

Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Nand Ghars provide nutrition, healthcare and early childhood education for children, alongside skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities for women. With over 10,000 Nand Ghars operational across 16 states, the initiative continues to uplift rural communities by ensuring that no child goes to bed hungry and every woman leads an empowered life.

Supported by Vedanta, the country’s leading energy transition metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology conglomerate, and organised by AnyBody Can Run (ABCR), this year’s marathon was flagged off at NRI Chauraha, Mahal Road in Jaipur by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd. and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., and Harmanpreet Kaur, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team and International Brand Ambassador for VPCHM 2025.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd. and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. said, “The Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon is not just a sporting event; it has evolved into a people’s movement for a healthier India. What makes today truly special is that every step taken by every runner helps nourish a child. With over 10,000 Nand Ghars already serving children and women across 16 states, we are deeply committed to our vision of transforming all 13.7 lakh Anganwadis in the country. Our mission is to ensure that every child and every woman in India has access to nutrition, education, and opportunity.”

Harmanpreet Kaur, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team and International Brand Ambassador for VPCHM 2025, added, “It’s inspiring to see thousands run not only for fitness, but for a purpose that touches the lives of children at Nand Ghars across India. When sport is used as a force for good, it becomes even more powerful. I am proud to be part of the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon and support the #RunForZeroHunger movement.”

The marathon featured three categories: the 21 km Half Marathon for professional athletes, 10 km Cool Run for intermediate athletes, and 5 km Dream Run for beginners and families. The winners also expressed their gratitude and pride upon completing the race with remarkable timings. Bablu Sisodiya (Winner – 21 km Male Category), Ujaala (Winner – 21 km Female Category), Pawan Kumar (Winner – 10 Km Male Category), Saloni (Winner – 10 Km Female Category) shared that running the Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon was a truly memorable and inspiring experience. From seasoned athletes to first-time participants, every finisher crossed the line with pride, making this edition a true celebration of grit and glory.

As a lead-up to race day, mini-marathons were organised in Jaipur and Barmer that brought people and Vedanta employees together for the cause. Indian sprint athlete Sufiya Sufi and students from Vedanta PG Girls College, Reengus, also lent their support to #RunForZeroHunger.

This marathon reflects the power of participative sport for social change, where each runner contributes to a better tomorrow. Each participant received a finisher’s medal crafted from the purest high-grade zinc sourced from Rajasthan’s Zawar Mines, produced by Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta subsidiary.

VPCHM 2025 builds on Vedanta’s legacy of leveraging sports as a platform for fitness, community engagement and social impact. As part of this vision, Vedanta supports several major sporting events, including the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, the Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon in Udaipur, Vedanta Tour de Thar – a first-of-its-kind desert endurance cycle race that concluded recently in Bikaner, and multiple marathons across India including Bengaluru, Mumbai and other cities. Beyond these, Vedanta is nurturing grassroots talent through its acclaimed football development programs, the Zinc Football Academy in Udaipur and the Sesa Football Academy in Goa, and archery academies in Odisha and Jharkhand, which have consistently produced national-level players. The company also promotes sports infrastructure and community fitness initiatives across its operational locations, reinforcing its belief that sport is a powerful catalyst for youth development and social transformation.

Vedanta, through its subsidiaries Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Cairn Oil & Gas, has been making an impactful multi-dimensional contribution to Rajasthan, from sustainable growth to economic and community development. Hindustan Zinc Limited is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and amongst the top five silver producers globally, recognised for its leadership in operational excellence, innovation and ESG practices. Cairn Oil & Gas is recognised as the largest private oil and gas exploration and production company in India, accounting for more than 25% of India’s total domestic crude oil production.

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In the previous two editions, the contribution of the runners led to the provision of 7 million meals to the children of Nand Ghar, AAF’s flagship Women & Child Development project, which constitutes a network of modern, state-of-the-art Anganwadis. Anil Agarwal Foundation has distributed almost 7.2 million multi-millet bars, so far, at Anganwadis including Nand Ghars, resulting in a significant reduction of 15% in Severely Acute Malnourished cases and 12% in Moderately Acute Malnourished cases, within a concentrated group of Nand Ghars.

In this edition, AAF extended its commitment beyond nourishing children to include animals, recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment under the ‘One Health’ approach. This ‘Meals for All’ initiative will benefit animals through AAF’s animal welfare project, The Animal Care Organization (TACO), in addition to children across nearly 6,500 Nand Ghars, operating in 14 states across India.

The races were flagged off by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., in the presence of Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Smt Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Captain of the Indian National Football Team, along with other dignitaries. Hebbar, who also participated in the 10K run, remarked, “Today, we witnessed an extraordinary display of determination and unity as people across the globe came together, not just for fitness, but for a cause that resonates with us all. I am glad to have run and am humbled to contribute to the larger dream of combating malnourishment. With every kilometer run, all marathoners added to the number of meals that will be provided for nourishing children and for feeding animals. I am confident that we have created history by raising 10 million meals, this year. Together we have run for zero hunger.” 

Valarie Allman, the current Paris Olympics 2024 Discus Throw Gold Medallist from the United States of America & the International Event Ambassador of VDHM 2024, inspired the runners at the marathon. Many celebrities and influencers including Milind Soman, RJ Naved, Gul Panag, and various Delhi-based cyclist, fitness and runners’ clubs lent their support to the cause of #RunForZeroHunger.

Leading up to VDHM race day, another 36,000 members from the Vedanta community, including leadership, CXOs, employees and business partners participated in activities, to raise meals pledged by Vedanta. While some ran in Delhi, others participated in mini marathons and walkathons held across Vedanta’s 19 business locations, as well as via the StepSetGo app.

A Finisher’s medal was awarded to the runners. The medal is crafted from the purest and highest-grade zinc sourced from Zawar Mines in Udaipur — the world’s largest and oldest mines in the heritage state of Rajasthan. The Zinc is produced by Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s leading zinc producer and a Vedanta Group company.

Vedanta is committed to nurturing grassroot sports and use platforms such as marathons to mobilise communities for fitness and social change. VDHM 2024 is the 19th edition Delhi Half Marathon and third year of Vedanta’s association with it. It looks forward to continuing its #RunForZeroHunger movement in the upcoming marathons across India and be back in Delhi next year!

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