Chandan Yadav and Ravina Gayakwad Shine at 8th Mumbai Half Marathon 2024

Chandan Yadav from Uttar Pradesh and Ravina Gayakwad from Maharashtra clinched the Men's and Women's titles in the 8th Mumbai Half Marathon 2024. Yadav clocked 1:11:01, while Gayakwad won in 1:27:43. Athletes from across India, including over 1,500 from the Indian Navy, participated in the event.

Chandan Yadav from Uttar Pradesh and Ravina Gayakwad from Maharashtra emerged victorious in the Men's and Women's categories at the 8th Mumbai Half Marathon 2024 on Sunday. Yadav, boasting several podium finishes in his career, finished the race in 1:11:01 minutes. Nitish Kumar followed in second place at 1:11:54, with Piyush Masane securing third at 1:13:20 minutes, according to Mumbai Marathon's official release.

Elated by his victory, Chandan Yadav said, "I worked hard for this win and timed my breakaway to perfection," as he received his award from cricket legend and event ambassador Sachin Tendulkar. In the Women's 21K, 19-year-old debutante Ravina Gayakwad claimed the title with a time of 1:27:43, finishing ahead of Senait Lesharge (1:29:41) and Rukamani Bhoure (1:31:23). Gayakwad had only begun her athletic training three months prior to this event.

In the Men's 10K race, Yuvraj Yadav triumphed with a time of 31:50, followed by Manish Kumar Nayak at 32:14, and Amit Mali at 33:25. The Women's 10K race saw Sonali Desai defend her title successfully, clocking in at 39:47, with Divya Pingale and Rajni Tyagi finishing in 41:50 and 43:52 respectively.

Over 20,000 runners participated in the event, organized by NEB Sports, which started and concluded at Jio Gardens in Bandra Kurla Complex. The event featured four race categories: 21K, 10K, 5K, and 3K family run, including a special race for over 1,000 school children. The field included over 1,500 athletes from the Indian Navy, as well as visually and physically disabled runners.

Sachin Tendulkar expressed his enthusiasm about the energetic and exciting atmosphere, noting the increased participation of female runners. "As Indians, we love sports, but it's time to embrace sports as a way of life for their mental and physical benefits. I was thrilled to see Mumbaikars wake up early not only to run but also to cheer on the participants," Tendulkar said.

CEO of Ageas Federal Life Insurance, Arvind Shahi, also expressed pride in organizing the event. "It is indeed a proud moment for us at Ageas Federal Life Insurance to organize yet another successful edition of the Mumbai Half Marathon. Our commitment to promoting health and physical fitness in India remains strong," Shahi stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)