The momentous 20th edition of the prestigious Tata Mumbai Marathon that took place on 19 January, 2025 witnessed new Elite Men and Women International champions being crowned over the 42.195 km challenging course in the financial capital of India including iconic landmarks of the likes of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.  Marine Drive – Girgaon Chowpatty (Queen's Necklace), Cumballa Hill (Peddar Road), Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Bandra-Worli Sea-link, Mahim Church, the Siddhivinayak Temple, and other historic sites.

For the first time in the history of this World Athletics Gold Label Race, Eritrean Men athletes Berhane Tesfay  and Merhawi Kesete dominate the podium with their one – two finish six seconds apart after the former had clocked 2 hours 11 minutes and 44 seconds amidst warm and humid conditions, especially during the second half of the marquee race. Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Demeke (2:11:56s) came in third.

Eyeing an hat-trick of titles, defending champion Lemi Berhanu from Ethiopia who was part of the elite six runners till the 39 km along with Kenyan Philemon Rono saw his dream evaporate as Demeke, Berhane and Kesete, increased their tempo and surged way ahead 3 km from the end.  In the waning stages of the race the two Eritrean showed more reservoir and self-belief to make a strong finish at the tape where they were congratulated by Sir Mo Farah, International Event Ambassador, TMM 2025 and Adille Sumariwala, Vice President, World Athletics for their stunning performance.

Tesfay on his maiden Marathon win in a post-race interview said, "I'm happy to have won today's race. The race's first half went smoothly, and I stayed focused on keeping a steady pace.  After 25K, my strategy shifted to securing the win rather than chasing a specific time.  This victory means a lot to me, and it's a testament to the hard work and training that has gone into preparing for this moment".  

The Elite International Women’s category saw Kenya’ s Joyce Chepkemoi Tele  register her second straight marathon victory in three months.  Having won her maiden race in Ljubljana City Marathon in Slovakia last October in 2:20:17, the 29 year old runner saw her competition wither at the 27 km mark following the withdrawal of defending champion Aberash Minsewo from Ethiopia.

With a pacer taking her through the second part of the race, Tele completed the race in 2:24:56s.  about 41 seconds slower than the course record.  Tele became the third Kenyan woman runner to win in Mumbai after Valentine Kipketer (2013) and Bornus Kitur (2017) that had been dominated by the Ethiopians.

Pre-race favourite Shitaye Eshete (Bahrain) came in second with a timing of 2:25:29 hrs. and was followed by Medina Deme Armino (Ethiopia) who clocked 2:27:58 hrs.

An elated Tele in the post-event press conference expressed happiness on  her performance today and would like to come again for better results. “ I came here only to win the race and was not thinking about any record",  said Tele. 

The top three winners in the Elite International Men and Women category each took home prize money of USD 50,000, USD 25,000 and USD 15,000 respectively.

Anish Thapa, Nirmaben Thakor crowned Indian Elite champions.

Anish Thapa from Meghalaya won his first Tata Mumbai Marathon Indian Men’s title in the landmark 20th edition while Gujarat’s Thakor Nirmaben retained her Indian Elite women’s crown.

Services’ Thapa (2:17.23s.) who led the Indian Elite category near the 39 km mark with his rhythmic powerful strides, pipped Asian marathon champion and Army mate Man Singh by 14 seconds in a terrific finish. The feat also saw Anish finishing 7th in the overall Elite Runners’ list, closely followed by Man Singh in 8th position. 

Olympian and former champion Gopi T, also of the Army battled cramps and heat post the half –way mark, finished third, more than two minutes behind the winner, Maharashtra’s Kalidas Hirave was fourth and last year’s winner Srinu Bugatha of the Army finished fifth in 2:20.43 hrs.

“The real push came after the 30-35 km mark, and sticking to my plan made all the difference. I’m incredibly happy with how it all came together, said a beaming Anish Thapa, after his first podium finish at the TMM, his previous best here being 14th overall in 2:22.00 in the 2023 edition.

In the Women’s marathon, Nirmaben won for a second successive year, in a time of 2 hours 50 minutes and 6 seconds, beating second-placed South Central Railway’s middle distance runner Sonika Parmar by 49 seconds, the latter participating in her maiden Marathon and was leading the pack by some distance till the 30km mark.  Rookie marathoner Sonam who battled heat and dehydration clocked 2:55:45s and finished third.

“Though my performance this year wasn’t as strong as last year, which remains my personal best, the experience was just as rewarding,” said Nirmaben who trains at Nashik based Ekalavya Athletics and Sports Institute under renowned athletics coach Vijendra Singh whose wards including Kavita Raut have represented India at Commonwealth and Asian Games and won medals at the international stage.

“I started at my regular pace and stayed with the group for the first 12 km before we began to split. After 21 km, I gradually started overtaking, and by the 36 km mark, I had secured the lead. Even when I faced some challenges with my shoes (starting tilting inwards) around 38 km, my determination and faith in God kept me going,” she added.

The top three finishers in the Indian Elite Men’s and Women’s categories received prize money of Rs. 5 lakh, Rs. 4 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh respectively from the total prize fund of USD 390,238 and more important crucial points in order to qualify for the qualifier for the World Athletics Championships slated to be held in September later this year.

Earlier the TMM 2025 witnessed participation from a record 65, 320 athletes (5353 runners who participated virtually through the TMM app) from various walks of life in six categories, the maximum being 25,384 in the Dream Run and the highest tally of 12,207 runners in the Marathon who were cheered by thousands of bystanders who lined the route.

Among the prominent dignitaries who graced the annual event included C P Radhakrishnan (Governor of Maharashtra), Raksha Nikhil Khadse (Sports Minister GoI), Bahadur Singh Sagoo (President, Athletics Federation of India), Paco Borao (President AIMS), Dattatray Bharane (Sports Minister, GoM), Ashish Shelar (Minster IT),  Eknath Shinde (Dy. CM), Rahul Narvekar (Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly),  Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar (Chief of Staff, HQ Western Naval Command), Gen Pawan Chadha (GOC MG&G Area), Maj Gen. Bikramdeep Singh (COS, HQ MG&G Area), Rear Admiral Anil Jaggi (FOMA),  Sujata Saunik (CS, GoM), Bhushan Gagrani (MCGM Commissioner), Raj Tandon (Principal  Chief Commissioner of IT) Dharam Veer Meena (GM Central Railway), Ashok Kumar Mishra (GM Western Railway), Anil Kumar Gaikwad (VC & MD, MSRDC), Nupur Mallick and Chacko Thomas (Tata Sons), V Vaidynathan (IDFC FB),  Vikas Kharage (Addln Principal Secretary, CMO), Neeraj Kansal (Commissioner Appeals, Central GST) among others

TMM 2025 Results:

Marathon Overall Elite Men (Top Ten): 1) Berhane Tesfay (Eritrea) - 2:11:44; 2) Merhawi Kesete (Eritrea) - 2:11:50; 3) Tesfaye Demeke (Ethiopia) - 2:11:56; 4) Philemon Rono (Kenya) - 2:12:09; 5) Abdi Fufa (Ethiopia) - 2:12:48; 6) Lemi Berhanu (Ethiopia) - 2:14:54; 7) Anish Thapa (India) -  02:17:23; 8) Man Singh (India) - 2:17:37; 9) Kemal Husen (Ethiopia) - 2:17:37; 10) Asrar Hiyrden (Ethiopia) - 2:18:31.

Marathon Overall Elite Women (Top Ten): 1) Joyce Chepkemoi (Kenya) - 2:24:56; 2) Shitaye Eshete (Bahrain) - 2:25:29; 3) Medina Deme Armino (Ethiopia) -2:27:58; 4) Nigsti Haftu (Ethiopia)- 2:28:29; 5) Shewarge Alene (Ethiopia) - 2:29:34; 6)        Aamelmal Tagel (Ethiopia) - 2:29:37; 7) Aberash Demisse (Ethiopia) - 2:29:53; 8) Tigst Getnet (Ethiopia) - 2:33:00; 9) Birtukan Abera (Ethiopia) - 2:3:55; 10) Enyish Mengie (Ethiopia) - 2:34:13.

Marathon Indian Elite Men (Top Ten): 1) Anish Thapa - 2:17:23; 2) Man Singh - 2:17:37; 3) Gopi Thonakal - 2:19:59; 4) Kalidas Hirave 2:20:28; 5) Srinu Bugatha -2:20:43; 6) Pradeep Singh Chaudhary-2:22:24; 7) Dev Singh Dagar    - 2:25:59; 8) Late Changdev - 2:26:24; 9) Prathamesh Paramkar - 2:28:41; 10) Anant Gaonkar - 2:29:14.

Marathon Indian Elite Women (Top Ten): 1) Nirmaben Thakor - 2:50:06; 2) Sonika Parmar - 2:50:55; 3) Sonam - 2:55:45; 4) KM Laxmi - 2:58:49; 5)  Bhagirathi Bisht - 2:58:52; 6) Seema - 3:10:40; 7) Jyoti Gawate - 3:11:09; 8) Bhagwati Dangi - 3:18:30; 9) Disket Dolma - 3:19:29.

Half Marathon Men (Top Three): 1) Sawan Barwal (India) - 1:04:37; 2) Harmanjot Singh (India) -1:06:03; 3) Kartik Karkera (India) -1:07:20.

Half Marathon Women (Top Three): 1) Stanzin Dolkar (India) 1:25:51; 2) Skarma Idong Lanze (India) - 1:27:03; 3) Tashi Ladol (India) - 1:29:30