Kenya’s Alex Matata, Lilian Rengeruk win Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2025

Abhishek Pal, Seema top finishers among Indian runners

Kenyan runners Alex Matata and Lilian Rengeruk won the men’s and women’s half marathon race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, held on October 12, 2025 in the capital city.

Alex Matata finished the race in 59.50 minutes to claim the men’s half marathon crown.

In the women’s race, Lilian Rengeruk, also of Kenya, completed the distance in 1:07:20 hours.

This was the second time in the 20 years of the race’s history that Kenyans were winning the men’s and women’s title. The previous double win by Kenyan runners came in 2006.

Finishing second behind Matata was Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager (1:00:22) and third was Kenya’s James Kipkogei (1:00:25).

In the women’s race finishing behind Rengeruk was Melal Biratu in second position (1:07:21) and Mulat Tekle (1:07:29) in third position, both from Ethiopia.

The Indian title was clinched by Abhishek Pal (1:04:17) in the men’s race and Seema (1:11:23) in the women’s race.

Abhishek Pal had previously won the Delhi Half Marathon in 2018 and 2023. In April 2025, he was the Indian winner of TCS World 10 K Bengaluru and finished overall seventh with a timing of 29:12 minutes.

“I was happy with my training and my race. But I could have done better if I had company during the race. Pacing with another runner always helps improve our timing,” Abhishek said.

Indian team for 100 k IAU Asia Oceania Championships 2025 chosen

The Ultra and Trail Running Selection Committee of AFI has chosen the team of ultrarunners to represent the country at the 100 k IAU Asia Oceania Championships to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 23, 2025.

Male ultrarunners include Vipul Kumar, Amar Singh Devanda, Saurav Kumar Ranjan, Binay Sah, Geeno Antony, Velu Perumal, Devarao Choudhari, Sanap Jagannath and Jayadrath Singh.

Women runners chosen to participate include Jayalakshmi Balakrishnan, Aarti Zanwar, Sindhu Umesh, Rajni Singh, Tenzin Dolma and Namgyal Lhamo.

(The author, Latha Venkatraman, is an independent journalist based in Mumbai)