Record holders return for robust defence

The Tata (TMM) is running at full throttle, as race day—January 21 looms. The curtains went up at a press meet in a city hotel on Thursday when organisers Procam announced that at least 56,000 participants across categories will be running. There are an additional 2,900 runners who will be participating virtually through the TMM app.

ADVERTISEMENT The marathon (42.2 km) registrations crossed 11,000 runners. Vivek Singh, Jt Managing Director, Procam said:“Registrations closed way before this time. We also have our defending champions who are back. Most exciting is the fact that we have at least nine male runners in the field who have gone under the TMM course record, in different races across the world.” Defending champions and event record holders Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Anchialem Haymanot are back to compete.

Hayle Lemi had stopped the clock at 02:07:32, setting a new course record last year. Haymanot set the course record of 2:24:15 last year in the international elite women’s field. In fact, second placed Rahma Tusa (2:24:22) had also smashed the women’s course record last year. Both runners went under 2:24:33, which was the previous record.

Defending champion Gopi T headlines the Indian elite field. He will have 2020 champ Srinu Bugatha and Tirtha Kumar Puri, the 2023 Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon winner to contend with. Last year’s runner up, Aarti Patil will be hoping for one better. Not so fast, says ’s Jigmet Dolma, also looking for a first TMM win.

Dolma was runner up in 2017 and 2019. The Indian winners will take back Rs 5,00,000 each, with one more incentive beckoning, Rs 2,00,000 as a course record bonus..