Mumbai, Dec 30 (NationPress) Ethiopia’s defending champions Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo are gearing up to defend their titles at the Mumbai Marathon 2025, a World Athletics Gold Label Race, set for January 19. Berhanu is aiming for a hat-trick of victories after clinching back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024 in the men’s category. If he succeeds, he will be the first runner to achieve this feat in the 20-year history of the event.
Interestingly, Kenyan John Kelai, who triumphed in 2007 and 2008, attempted a similar feat but could only secure third place in 2009. While Ethiopian Mulu Seboka has three wins in Mumbai, she missed the 2007 race before claiming her third title.
The top three finishers in both men’s and women’s categories will earn prizes of USD 50,000, USD 25,000, and USD 15,000 from a total prize pool of USD 390,238. A bonus of USD 15,000 will also be awarded to those who break existing records in their categories. The current records are held by Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu (2:07:32) and Anchialem Haymanot (2:24:15), established in 2023.
The 2025 edition features 11 men and six women whose personal bests are faster than the current Mumbai Marathon course records.
Commenting on the impressive roster of elite athletes, Vivek Singh, Jt. MD of Procam International, remarked, "The return of defending champions Berhanu and Minsewo is promising as we celebrate the landmark 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon. This race has significantly contributed to the growth of distance running in India, and this elite field showcases the increasing popularity of TMM on a global scale. We wish all participants the best of luck as they prepare for the challenge on Sunday, January 19th."
In addition to Berhanu, the men’s lineup features Kenya’s Philemon Cherop Rono, the runner-up in 2023. Another notable participant from previous editions is Eritrean Merhawi Kesete, who finished ninth last year.
Making a comeback from the 2020 batch is Bahrain’s Abdi Ali Gelchu, who secured fifth place in his prior Mumbai appearance. Gelchu, the Asian junior cross-country champion in 2016, has represented Bahrain since migrating from Ethiopia in 2014.
Two notable challengers to Berhanu this year are his compatriots Asrar Aberrehman Hiyrden (2:04:43) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57), both of whom have recorded impressive times recently.
Reflecting on his preparations for the 2025 Mumbai Marathon, Berhanu stated, "Last year, I was very close to breaking the course record. The crowd support along the route was fantastic. Although I couldn’t improve the record in 2024, I will do my utmost this time. I am optimistic about my chances. The women’s competition looks even tougher for defending champion Aberash Minsewo. The Ethiopian, who clocked 2:26:06 to win here on her debut in 2024, will face stiff competition from over a dozen runners with superior performances elsewhere.
Only two female runners from Ethiopia, Mulu Seboka and Dinknesh Mekash, have more than one win in Mumbai. Returning from previous years are 2016 winner Shuko Genemo, who finished third two years later, and Feyisa Adanech Anbesa (tenth in 2023).
Kenyan Joyce Tele, who made an impressive debut with a time of 2:20:17 in Ljubljana (Slovakia) this year, and Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete, who recorded 2:21:33 in the same location in 2019, are expected to be top contenders. Genemo achieved a silver medal time of 2:21:35 earlier this year in Barcelona and finished third in Frankfurt, further elevating the competition against Minsewo.
Ethiopian runners also bring strong competitors like Tigist Getnet (2:23:17 Dubai 2023), Feyisa Adanech (2:24:07 Paris 2022), and Asimarech Naga (2:24:13 Dublin 2024) to the race, enhancing the excitement. Minsewo expressed, "Winning my first-ever marathon title on debut was incredible. Mumbai feels lucky, and I haven’t raced in any other marathons since then. With such a strong field entered for 2025, I aim to improve my performance and successfully defend my title."
The Mumbai Marathon is among the designated races for qualifying for the World Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2025.
