Indian top elite athletes at the Tata Mumbai Marathon media center on Friday (L to R), Defending champion Thakor Nirmaben Bharatjee; Shymali Singh; Asian Marathon 2024 Champion Man Singh; Defending Champion Srinu Bugatha and Olympian Gopi T. along with Sir MO Farah, International Event Ambassador, Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025. |
Two-time winner in the Mumbai Marathon among the elite Indian athletes Gopi Thonakal is eyeing third title with a record time at the 20th edition of Tata Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. Gopi has emerged the best Indian runner in the men’s section in Mumbai in 2023 and 2018. He won first time here seven years ago after winning the prestigious Asian Marathon Championships in 2017. A year before, the Army Sports Institute athlete represented India at the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016.
Gopi who trains at Sports Authority of India Bengaluru, was runner-up here last year and also in 2019 and 2016. He has finished on the podium in all the races he participated in Mumbai Marathon. He is supported by Reliance in trainings and competitions.
“It is my sixth marathon here, and one of the favourite routes. I have good preparations and coach have made certain changes. I will see what happens on the race day,” said Gopi at the sidelines of an event here on Friday.
Gopi won the New Delhi Marathon in 2024 with an impressive timing of 2:14:40 and ran impressively at TCS Amsterdam Marathon in 2023 at 2:14:58 where he stood 20th. But he is aiming to better Seoul Marathon performance where he clocked his personal best of 2:13:39 in 2022 and finished in top ten.
“Seoul Marathon was my best performance, I am looking to better that. But the conditions are different here and I will be contend with a new course record here,” he added.
The 36-year-old is eyeing a good show to qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo slated to happen in September 2025.
“World Championships is the main competition this year which I am targeting. This is the start of the season and I have to participate in 2-3 more competitions to qualify. Therefore I have to start well,” he said.
Gopi will face tough competition from defending champion Srinu Bugatha who is top form having won the Tata Mumbai Marathon and finishing runners up in New Delhi Marathon last year. Srinu has also won the Mumbai Marathon in 2020 and New Delhi Marathon in 2021. Then their is the reigning Asian Marathon Champion, Hong Kong Man Singh.
“I have some toughest competitors in Srinu, Man Singh and then their is an impressive debutant,” Gopi said.
Gopi praised multiple Olympic and World Champion Mo Farah who is the International Event Ambassador of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025.
“It was great to meet him. He is an inspiration and has achieved so much. He is honest, real and sincere in his approach,” he signed off.
