The 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a prestigious World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, witnessed dramatic performances as new champions emerged in both the men's and women's categories. Eritrean Berhane Tesfay claimed victory in the men's race, while Kenyan Joyce Chepkemoi Tele triumphed in the women's race, adding a significant chapter to the history of this renowned event.
The men's race was a highly competitive affair, with six runners, including the defending champion Lemi Berhanu, maintaining a close pack for most of the race. Kenyan pacer Timoty Kibet led the group up to the 27 km mark before withdrawing. At the 30 km mark, the pace began to pick up as Kenyan runners Philemon Rono and Lemi Berhanu briefly exchanged the lead. However, as the race neared its final stages, it became clear that the race record would be out of reach, and the focus shifted to securing the top spot.
Tesfay, who had finished ninth in the 2020 edition of the race, seized the lead with just 3 km left to run. The other runners, including Rono and Berhanu, showed signs of fatigue as Eritrean runners Tesfay and Merhawi Kesete increased their pace. Tesfay crossed the finish line first with a time of 2:11:44, with Kesete finishing in second place just six seconds later. Ethiopian Tesfaye Demeke, who had briefly led the race, completed the podium in third with a time of 2:11:56. Defending champion Lemi Berhanu, who had won the event in 2023 and 2024, could not complete a hat-trick of victories and finished in sixth place with a time of 2:14:54.
In a post-race interview, Tesfay expressed his joy, stating, "I'm happy to have won today's race. The race's first half went smoothly, and I stayed focused on keeping a steady pace. After 25 km, my strategy shifted to securing the win rather than chasing a specific time. This victory means a lot to me, and it's a testament to the hard work and training that has gone into preparing for this moment."
In the women's race, Joyce Chepkemoi Tele extended her impressive marathon run by claiming her second marathon victory in just three months. Having won the Ljubljana City Marathon in Slovakia last October with a time of 2:20:17, Tele was poised to improve upon the event's course record of 2:24:15 set by Anchialem Haymanot in 2023. Tele's victory in Mumbai, though hard-fought, demonstrated her strength and consistency, making her one of the top contenders in the marathon scene.
The top three finishers in both the men's and women's races took home substantial prize money, with the winners receiving USD 50,000, the runners-up earning USD 25,000, and third place collecting USD 15,000. The event's success was a testament to the growing popularity of marathon running in India and the continued excellence of international runners who now consider the Tata Mumbai Marathon one of the most prestigious events on the global marathon calendar.
The race was not only a showcase of elite athleticism but also an important cultural and sporting event that brought together runners from around the world. With new champions in both categories, the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 was a milestone event, and the victory of Tesfay and Tele will be remembered as part of the marathon's rich history.
