On a day when 65,000 runners took to the streets to become a part of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, it was the tiny country of Eritrea that dominated the proceedings in the Marathon Overall Elite – Men.
Berhane Tesfay clinched the first place with a timing of 2:11:44 while countryman Merhawi Kesete bagged the second spot clocking 2:11:50s. Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Demeke was a further six seconds adrift to be at 2:11:56.
Lemi Berhanu, who was the winner in the previous two editions of the TMM and looking to complete a hat-trick, disappointingly finished sixth as he was left in the wake of five runners who were far superior to him on the day.
Perhaps, Lemi wasn’t his usual self with perhaps the excruciating humidity coupled with the better tactical run of his competitors undoing all the hardwork done by him.
Kenya’s Philemon Rono and Abdi Fufa of Ethiopia bagged the fourth and fifth place with a timing of 2:12:09 to hand Lemi the fifth position in the race.
Anish Thapa grabbed the first place in the Elite Indian men’s category with a timing of 2:17:23 while Man Singh bagged the second place with a timing of 2:17:37.
Gopi Thonakal completed the standings coming third in 2:19:59. Defending champion Srinu Bugatha disappointed as he came fifth in the section with a timing of 2:20.43 behind Kalidas Hirave, who stood fourth with a timing of 2:20.28.
Elite women’s category
In the Elite Women Marathon, Joyce Chepkemoi Tele of Kenya lifted the crown with a timing of 2:24.56 while Shitaye Eshete of Bahrain took the second spot at 2:25.29.
Medina Deme Armino of Ethiopia took the third place with a timing of 2:27.58. When it came to the Elite Indian Women category, usual suspect Nirmaben Thakor took home the spoils with a timing of 2:50:06 while Sonika Parmar came second with 2:50:55 and Sonam was a distant third at 2:55.45.
Men’s half marathon
The men’s Half-Marathon saw Sawan Barwal break the event record with a timing of 1:04:37 while Harmanjot Singh bagged the second place with 1:06:03.
Kartik Karkera took the third place with a timing of 1:07.20. In the corresponding women’s section, Stanzin Dolkar emerged the champion with a timing of 1:25:51 while Skarma Idong Lanze bagged the second spot with a timing of 1:27.03 while Tashi Ladol settled for third spot.
