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Birhanu Legese chases a third Delhi Half Marathon title on Sunday
The Ethiopian calls the city 'almost like a second home', and faces Riga winner Charles Matata. Irine Cheptai, the 2022 champion, admits she is not at her best, while Lily Das leads the Indian women.
Key points
- Two-time champion Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia is going for a third Delhi title.
- The winners of the elite races will each take $27,000 from a purse of $275,732.
- Kiran Matre and Lily Das lead the Indian elite fields, with ₹3.5 lakh for the top Indians.
Birhanu Legese will be chasing a third Delhi Half Marathon title when the elite fields set off from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium early on Sunday, and the Ethiopian sounded at ease on the eve of the race.
“I am in good shape and have trained well, and we will see on Sunday,” Legese said. “I like Delhi; it is almost like a second home.”
His main challenger is expected to be Kenya’s Charles Matata, who won the Riga Half Marathon in 59 minutes 15 seconds earlier this year. “We always approach races with a winning mentality,” said Matata, who works with the Kenyan police.
A cautious champion
The women’s race brings back Irine Cheptai of Kenya, the 2022 winner, who won in Dubai in February and finished second at the Sydney Marathon in August. She was candid about her form. “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.
Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, a world championship marathon bronze medallist, returns after a hamstring injury in May. “I am proud to represent Israel,” she said.
The Indian races
Kiran Matre, who ran a personal best of 1:04:57 last year and was the second Indian elite man home, is recovering from a hip injury. “I will definitely try to achieve my best timing,” he said. Kartik Karkera, third last year and an Asian Games runner this season, said: “I try to focus on consistent progression over perfection.”
Lily Das, the 2024 Indian elite women’s champion who was fourth last year, expects a tough race. “I think it’s getting very competitive,” she said. Ankita Dhyani, fifth on her half marathon debut last year, is also in the field.
The elite winners will each take $27,000 from a total purse of $275,732, with a $12,000 bonus for a course record. The top three Indian elite men and women earn ₹3.5 lakh, ₹2.5 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh, and an Indian elite record is worth another ₹1 lakh. The elite men start at 5:18 am and the women two minutes later.