Delhi Half Marathon: Defeated runner at Asian Games, Matata sets course record

Kenya’s Charles Matata broke the course record to win the men’s elite race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, while Shailesh Kushwaha emerged as India’s top finisher in the men’s race.

Matata clocked 58 minutes and 52 seconds, bettering by one second the previous course record of 58:53 set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020. In addition to the $27,000 (Rs 25,64,068) winner’s purse, he will take home an additional $12,000 (Rs 11,39,586) for breaking the event record. The best participants in the Delhi Half Marathon. (PTI photo)

Matata’s twin, Alex Matata, won the 2025 edition with a time of 59 minutes and 50 seconds.

Kenyans took the top three positions in the men’s elite race, with Samwel Nyamai Mailu second (59:24) and Stanley Waithaka Mburu third (59:33).

In the women’s elite race, Ethiopian Wudinesh Alemu won the title with a time of one hour, six minutes and 35 seconds. Kenyan Selah Businei finished second (1:07:01) and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony third (1:07:32).

SHAILESH KUSHWAHA LEADS THE INDIANS

Shailesh Kushwaha won the men’s Indian elite race with a time of one hour, five minutes and five seconds. Gaurav Mathur finished second in 1:05:11 while Hemant Kumar took the third spot in 1:05:37. Shailesh in TCS 10k. (Courtesy: PTI)

Kushwaha finished ahead of Kartik Karkera, who represented India at the 2026 Asian Games in the men’s marathon category. Karkera clocked 1:07:05 to finish well behind the top three Indian runners.

Ankita Dhyani topped India’s elite women with a time of one hour, 12 minutes and 46 seconds. Soniya finished second (1:14:56) and Bhagirathi third (1:15:51).

The 2026 edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon offered a total purse of $275,732, with the elite male and female winners receiving $27,000 each.

The top three finishers in the Indian Elite men’s and women’s categories will receive Rs 3,50,000, Rs 2,50,000 and Rs 1,50,000 respectively.

More than 40,000 participants took to the streets of the nation’s capital for the World Athletics Gold Label Race.

The event had a modified route with all the main races, including the half marathon and the Open 10K, starting and finishing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

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