Chennai, 9th January 2018: Race promoters Procam International have put together men’s and women’s elite fields of impressive depth to contest the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018 on Sunday 21 January.
With the announcement of the elite field, four men who have run under 2:07:00 and another five who have run under 2:09:00, as well as six women who have gone faster than 2:29:00 will be on the start line.
The elite runners will do battle for US$42,000 first prize cheques in what is anticipated to be a spectacular race played out in front of thousands of spectators lining the course in India’s entertainment and financial hub.
We are delighted to welcome on board TATA as our new title sponsor, ushering in a new era for the Mumbai Marathon. Its fitting as this year we are celebrating the landmark 15th anniversary, of this iconic event, said Vivek Singh, Joint MD of Procam International.
“We have yet again increased the overall prize fund – re-inforcing the Tata Mumbai Marathon’s position as Asia’s prestigious road race and one of the leading marathons of the world. We have a stronger mens field this year and I think the men’s course record of 2:08:35 (set in 2016 by Kenya’s Gideon Kipketer), will be under threat.
The women’s course record of 2:24:33 ( set in 2013 by Kenya’s Valentine Kipketer) is probably a tougher proposition but far from unbeatable, with the calibre of athletes coming here,” added Singh.
The fastest runner in the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018 is Ethiopia’s Solomon Deksisa who can boast of a best of 2:06:22, more than two minutes quicker than the course record.
Deksisa, 23, ran that time when finishing second at the 2016 Rotterdam Marathon and after third place in the Toronto Marathon last October, he will be bidding for his first marathon victory in Mumbai.
Ethiopia’s Chele Dechasa and Abraham Girma, and Bahrain’s Shumi Dechasa, the latter running for his country in the last two IAAF World Championships marathons, are the three other men who have run under 2:07:00 in their careers.
However, pundits are pointing towards two other young Ethiopian runners as perhaps the men to spring a surprise on their ostensibly faster rivals.
Yitayal Atnafu, 24, was the 2011 African U20 5000m champion on the track and set a marathon personal best of 2:07:21 when finishing fourth in the Paris Marathon last year. He also finished second in the Houston Marathon earlier last year and, like Deksisa, will be very motivated to get his first marathon victory.
Aychew Bantie, 23, has few international credentials but clocked 2:09:40 in his one and only marathon to date, in a high-quality affair in Amsterdam last October, and will have learnt a lot from that experience.
Among the prominent Kenyan runners in the elite field are Joshua Kipkorir and Eliud Barngetuny, who were second and third in last year’s Mumbai Marathon.
The women’s race sees the last two Mumbai Marathon winners return, Ethiopia’s 2016 champion Shuko Genemo and her Kenyan successor 12 months ago, Bornes Kitur.
Genemo had a 2017 best of 2:26:06 at the Vienna Marathon and ran under 2:29:00 in her other two marathons last year, including a win in the Ljubljana Marathon in October while Kitur followed up her win in Mumbai by setting a personal best of 2:29:01 when finishing second in the Sydney Marathon in September. However, the slight favourite on form over the last two years will be the fastest women in the field, Ethiopia’s Amane Gobena. Now 35, Gobena ran her personal best of 2:21:51 when finishing second in the 2016 Tokyo Marathon and returned to the famous race in the Japanese capital last February where she finished third in 2:23.09.
Ethiopia’s Kumeshi Sichala and Tigist Girma return to the race having made the podium in the past, Sichala was second in 2015 and Girma third last year, and will no doubt be able to use their previous expecience to good advantage on race day.
The Tata Mumbai Marathon has a total prize fund of US$405,000 in 2018. As an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, the Tata Mumbai Marathon has established itself as one of Asia’s leading races over the classic distance since it was inaugurated in 2004.
Approximately 46,000 runners will take to the roads in Mumbai for the six different races in what has become an annual event in the city on the third Sunday of January.
In addition to the marathon, there is a half marathon, Dream Run (6.6km), Senior Citizens Race (4.6km), a Champions with Disability Race (2.4km) and, a new race in 2018, the Timed 10K run.
MALE ELITE ATHLETES (with nationality, year of birth and personal best)
Solomon Deksisa ETH/1994 2:06:22
Chele Dechasa ETH/1984 2:06:33
Shumi Dechasa BRN/1989 2:06:43
Abraham Girma ETH/1986 2:06:48
Tebalu Zawude ETH/1987 2:07:10
Yitayal Atnafu ETH/1983 2:07:21
Evans Ruto KEN/1984 2:07:49
Philip Kangogo KEN/1983 2:08:16
Samuel Mwaniki KEN/1984 2:08:56
Aychew Bantie ETH/1995 2:09:40
Joshua Kipkorir KEN/1994 2:09:50
Eliud Barngetuny KEN/1987 2:10:23
Robert Chemonges UGA/1997 2:10:32
Vincent Kipchumba KEN/1990 2:10:32
Jeffrey Eggleston USA/1984 2:10:52
Shumet Akalnaw ETH/1988 2:13:18
Husen Muhammedamin ETH/1993 2:14:19
FEMALE ELITE ATHLETES
Bornes Kitur KEN/1988 2:29:01 (defending champion)
Amane Gobena ETH/1982 2:21:51
Shuko Genemo ETH/1995 2:24:31
Helalia Johannes NAM/1980 2:26:09
Monika Stefanowicz POL/1980 2:28:26
Kumeshi Sichala ETH/1995 2:28:42
Afera Godfay ETH/1991 2:28:46
Tigist Girma ETH/1993 2:29:05
Kuftu Tahir ETH/1995 2:31:27
Tejitu Daba BRN/1991 2:31:32
Rose Maru KEN/1987 2:33:05
Birke Debele ETH/1995 2:40:48
***
Tata in Sports
Tata group, a global enterprise with combined revenues of around $100 billion, along with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of the world’s leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organisations, are the title sponsor of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.
Sport has always been an integral part of Tata for over 75 years. Tatas association with multiple sports ranging from cricket, football, hockey, badminton, chess, athletics, mountaineering and motor racing, among others, has produced many award-winning sportspersons, helped the development of marginal communities and supported sporting teams, national and international events as well as training academies. The Tata Sports Club was set up in 1937 to encourage sports among its employee base across the country.
TCS is the sponsor of many premier global marathons across the world like the TCS New York City Marathon, the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, and the TCS Lidingloppet (the world’s largest cross-country run), and the technology partner of the Marathon held in London, Chicago, and Boston — all part of the company’s effort to promote health and fitness in the communities, the world over.
About Procam International
Since its inception in 1988, Procam International has been a driving force behind the growth and development of Indian sports. Envisioned by founders Anil & Vivek Singh, Procam is one of the foremost holistic sports management companies, involved in the promotion of national and international sports, sports consultancy, and live television programming.
Astute planning and exemplary execution of over 75 international events, in various sporting disciplines including cricket, football, tennis, distance running, squash, WWE & horse racing, among others, Procam events have elicited the participation of athletes of the highest calibre, as well as huge public interest and attendance. Founder and promoter of some of the most distinguished road races in the world: Tata Mumbai Marathon, Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K and the Tata Steel Kolkata 25 K have helped redefine the health & fitness paradigm of our country.
In 2017, Procam International launched the Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, from Mumbai’s very own amphitheatre, Marine Drive. The close-to-shore racing experience, a course on water for the first time, and participation from the world’s best pilots and navigators, made this yet another path-breaking sporting extravaganza.
