Delhi Half Marathon: Legese Targets Third Title As Cheptai Returns
Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese will target a third victory at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai returns to the Indian capital hoping to add to her previous success at the World Athletics Gold Label race.
Legese, a two-time winner of the event, is confident of challenging for the men’s title despite missing the podium last year.
‘I am in good shape and have trained well, and we will see how I do on Sunday. I like Delhi; it is almost like a second home. I have come here many times, and I like the people and the organisers,’ he said.
The Ethiopian prepared in Kaptagat, Kenya, where he trained alongside marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, citing traffic and other challenges in Addis Ababa as reasons for his choice of training base.
The 2026 race offers a total prize purse of $275,732, with the men’s and women’s winners each set to receive $27,000. An additional $12,000 bonus is available to any athlete who breaks the course record.
Kenya’s Charles Mbatha Matata is another leading contender in the men’s race. The Kenyan police officer arrives in Delhi after winning the Riga Half Marathon in Latvia earlier this year in 59:15.
‘I personally love half marathons. I am also good at speed work, and I believe my consistency comes from training with strong teams,’ Matata said.
‘We always approach races with a winning mentality, and that mindset has helped me consistently finish among the top two in most of my half marathons.’
In the women’s race, Cheptai returns as the 2022 champion after a strong season that included victory at the Dubai Half Marathon in February and second place at the Sydney Marathon in August.
However, the Kenyan admitted she was still recovering from the marathon and was not yet at her best ahead of Sunday’s contest.
‘After the Sydney Marathon, I decided to take a two-week break before returning to training. I am still recovering, and I wouldn’t say I am in top shape at the moment, but I will do my best on Sunday,’ she said.
‘India feels like my second home, and I am always happy to come here and compete.’
Cheptai is affectionately known as the ‘Queen of India’ in Kenya, reflecting her previous success and popularity in the country.
Another major contender is Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, the Kenyan-born Israeli athlete who won marathon bronze at the World Athletics Championships in 2022.
Salpeter, who has spent much of her training time in Iten, Kenya, will make her first visit to India as she continues her comeback from a hamstring injury sustained in May.
‘I am proud to represent Israel. People there have embraced me and are always proud of me. This is my first visit to India, and I am looking forward to Sunday, although I am still coming back from an injury. I will see how things go on race day,’ she said.
The women’s field also includes Kenya’s Cynthia Jerotich Limo and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony, alongside Ethiopian runners Asmarech Anley and Wudinesh Alemu.
