Ethiopia Dominates Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026 with Double Victory

Ethiopian runners Tadu Abate Deme and Yeshi Kalayu Chekole emerged victorious in the 21st edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, held on Sunday.

The triumphs brought Ethiopia a double celebration, with both men’s and women’s titles claimed for the seventh time in the history of the event. The top three finishers in each category earned prize money of USD 50,000, USD 25,000, and USD 15,000 respectively.

For Yeshi Chekole, the win marked her first career victory in a major marathon, despite competing over the distance since 2019. The 28-year-old executed her pre-race strategy flawlessly, staying composed and finishing strongly.

‘I am very happy to be the Champion today. I came here expecting to break the course record, but I was a little shaky in the weather. However, I am very happy with the result. I felt strong and positive throughout, especially on both the uphill and downhill sections,’ she said after crossing the finish line.

The women’s race began with a dozen Ethiopian athletes running together, including Medina Deme Armino, last year’s third-place finisher, and Shure Demise, the fastest entrant with a personal best of 2:20:59 set in Dubai eleven years ago.

Armino, determined to seize victory in the absence of last year’s top two finishers Joyce Chepkemoi and Shitaye Eshete, led confidently in the first half of the race, drawing on her experience of Mumbai’s roads. But her pace faltered as the race progressed, allowing Kidsan Alema to take charge.

Yeshi stayed close to Kidsan, alongside compatriots Gojjam Tesgaye and Birke Debele, until the three-quarter mark. With just a few kilometres remaining, she surged ahead, breaking away from the group to run solo to the finish. Her winning time of 2:25:13 was the fifth-fastest ever recorded by a Mumbai Marathon champion.

Kidsan, who finished behind her, admitted, ‘In the middle of the race, my body started to feel a bit warm and I dropped slightly behind the leading group. But the support from spectators along the course encouraged me.’

The men’s elite race was equally dramatic. Kenyan Leonard Kiprotich Langat, Eritrea’s Merhawi Kesete, and Ethiopia’s Tadu Abate were locked in a fierce contest from the start. Uganda’s 2023 World Marathon Champion Victor Kiplangat and Ethiopian Gada Gemsisa remained in contention until halfway.

Abate and Langat exchanged the lead repeatedly until the 40 km mark, with Kesete trailing about 50 metres behind. In the final kilometre, Abate accelerated decisively, leaving Langat unable to respond. He crossed the finish line in 2:09:55, fifteen seconds ahead of Langat, while Kesete settled for third in 2:10:22.

Langat praised the competition, saying, ‘It was a very competitive and tactical race from start to finish. The course was challenging, but it was well organised, and the roads were in good condition.’

Abate, jubilant after his victory, added, ‘I am delighted to win this race and grateful to the organisers for the competition, and for all our partners. The hills were tough, but once I settled into the rhythm after the halfway point, I focused on conserving energy and choosing the right moments. My body felt in good condition, and I am glad to be here in Mumbai and to win the race.’