Two-Time Champion Legese Returns for Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon Hat-Trick Bid
Two-time champion Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia will return to the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on October 18 chasing a record third title as organisers unveiled a star-studded international elite field for the 21st edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
Legese, who boasts a personal best of 58:59, is the fastest of the 18 men announced for the New Delhi race, which will carry a total prize purse of $275,732, with the men’s and women’s winners each receiving $27,000.
The field includes seven men with sub-60-minute personal bests, setting up what organisers expect to be one of the most competitive men’s races in the event’s history.
Kenya’s Peter Tuitoek (59:05), Charles Mbatha Matata (59:15), Samwel Mailu (59:19), Robert Kiprop Koech (59:51), Jamal Kiprono (59:55) and Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Deriba (59:56) will join Legese in the sub-60 field.
Matata, the 2023 Delhi Half Marathon runner-up, will be among the leading challengers after finishing second at the Istanbul Half Marathon earlier this year, while Deriba arrives after a runner-up finish at the Rotterdam Marathon. Ethiopia’s Melaku Belachew, who won the Hong Kong Marathon in 2026, will add further depth to the men’s field.
Legese is determined to improve on his performance in last year’s race.
‘I have narrowly missed the podium in last year’s race and am eager to make amends this time,’ Legese said. ‘It has always been a pleasure running in the Indian capital. I am doing well and looking to get in great shape before race day this year.’
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Irine Cheptai will headline the field with a personal best of 64:53 as the 2022 champion targets a second Delhi crown.
Cheptai will face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Melal Siyoum Biratu, last year’s runner-up, and Kenya’s Cynthia Limo, the 2024 runner-up.
Israeli international Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, who was born in Kenya and has a 66:09 personal best, is another leading contender after winning bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships and collecting multiple European Championship medals for Israel.
Cheptai arrives in Delhi with strong credentials, having won the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai in February before finishing sixth at the Boston Marathon.
‘I know there are several young runners who will be competing at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon,’ Cheptai said. ‘But I have the experience of running in Delhi, and I am confident of challenging for the podium and fighting for my second title here.’
The 2026 race will feature 36 international elite athletes, 18 men and 18 women, with competitors also chasing a $12,000 event-record bonus for breaking the existing mark in their respective categories.
Procam International Joint Managing Director Vivek Singh said the quality of the field reflected the growing stature of the race on the global distance-running calendar.
‘As we step into the third decade of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, we have witnessed remarkable milestones from record participation and new event records to some of the world’s finest elite athletes making their mark on the Delhi course,’ Singh said.
‘The elite field assembled for the 21st edition is a testament to the stature of the event on the global running calendar. With a highly competitive line-up, we expect every athlete to push their limits, challenge existing benchmarks and inspire the global running community with performances of the highest order.’
The race will also feature several debutants, including Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat and Daniel Zewudu Bekel of Ethiopia in the men’s field, while Kenya’s Christine Njoki Nalimo and Beatrice Chepkoech and Ethiopians Silnat Bitwe, Wubrist Aschal and Worknesh Yehualaw will make their half-marathon debuts in the women’s race.
