The 21st edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM), a World Athletics Gold Label Race, is set to once again underline the growing depth and competitiveness of Indian distance running.
With a strong domestic elite field confirmed for Sunday, January 18, the spotlight will firmly be on defending champions Anish Thapa and Nirmaben Thakor, who return to defend their crowns at Asia’s most prestigious marathon.
The Indian Elite races promise high stakes and fierce competition, not just for titles but also for substantial rewards. The top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories will earn prize money of INR 5 lakh, INR 4 lakh and INR 3 lakh, respectively. Additional incentives include an event record bonus of INR 2 lakh and an Indian event record bonus of INR 1 lakh. The current Indian event records at TMM stand at 2:15:48 by Nitendra Singh Rawat in the men’s race and 2:34:56 by Sudha Singh in the women’s race.
Men’s race: Experience meets speed
Leading the men’s elite field is Anish Thapa, who arrives in Mumbai with strong momentum after also winning the Hyderabad Marathon in 2025. A consistent performer on the domestic circuit, Thapa has a personal best of 2:16:41, set in Delhi in 2022, and will be keen to defend his title against a much faster field this year.
Chief among his challengers is Man Singh, the Asian Marathon Champion and runner-up at TMM 2025. Singh comes into the race as the third-fastest Indian marathoner of all time, courtesy of his 2:13:25 personal best achieved at the 2025 Valencia Marathon. With proven speed, international exposure and championship temperament, Singh shapes as a major threat to the defending champion.
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Adding further intrigue is Srinu Bugatha, a two-time Tata Mumbai Marathon winner (2020 and 2024), whose familiarity with the Mumbai course makes him a perennial contender. Bugatha’s best of 2:14:41, set in 2024, places him firmly among the favorites. Also in the mix is Pradeep Singh Chaudhary, who has steadily improved over the past season and arrives with a personal best of 2:15:29 from 2025, underlining the depth of the men’s field.
The start list also features a blend of experienced marathoners and emerging names, including Kulbir Singh, Tirtha Pun, Vikram Bangriya and Kartik Karkera, while three athletes, Subhash Chand Saini, Iohborlang Nongspung and Rizwan Khan will make their marathon debuts at this elite level.
Women’s race: A shot at history
In the women’s elite category, all eyes will be on Nirmaben Thakor, who is chasing a rare hat trick of Tata Mumbai Marathon titles. Having won the last two editions, Thakor arrives as the woman to beat, carrying a personal best of 2:47:11 set in 2024. A third consecutive win would see her emulate Lalita Babbar, who achieved the feat between 2012 and 2014.
Standing in her way is Jyoti Gawate, a former TMM champion who won the race in 2011 and 2017. Gawate, who owns an impressive personal best of 2:45:48, returns to the Mumbai start line looking to script a strong comeback after a challenging period away from peak fitness.
Bhagirathi, winner of marathons in Hyderabad and Delhi, adds further competitiveness to the field with a personal best of 2:48:56 from 2025. Sonam, a podium finisher at TMM 2025, and Ashvini Madan Jadhav, one of the youngest athletes in the elite women’s line-up, also bring promise and depth to the race. The field is rounded out by a mix of experienced campaigners and debutants, highlighting the expanding base of women’s marathon running in India.
Speaking ahead of the race, Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director of Procam International, emphasized the significance of the event for Indian athletics. “The Tata Mumbai Marathon has always been a definitive platform for Indian distance running. With defending champions, former winners and emerging athletes all lining up, the Indian elite field reflects how far the sport has progressed nationally,” he said.
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This year’s Tata Mumbai Marathon will feature 36 Indian elite athletes, 23 men and 13 women, all competing not only for titles and prize money, but also for recognition on a stage that commands global attention. As India’s marathoners continue to push performance benchmarks, TMM 2026 stands poised to deliver another compelling chapter in the country’s long-distance running story.
