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. Gada Gemsisa Gudeta | ETH | DEBUT | ||
| 19. Demisu Anegagreng Gemeda | ETH | 01:01:07 | ||
| 20. 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. Maritu Ketema Gutema | ETH | 02:25:55 | ELITE Label |
| 109. Aberash Minsewo Belay | ETH | 02:26:06 | ELITE Label |
| 110. Zemenay Ayana Demilew | ETH | 02:28:07 | ELITE Label |
| 111. Workie Abeja Aregu | ETH | 02:30:32 | ELITE Label |
| 112. Tigest Worku Anagaw | ETH | 02:36:37 | |
| 113. Asekek Tilaya Ayana | ETH | DEBUT | |
| 114. Ayantu Idossa Eshete | ETH | DEBUT |
