Who Claimed the Full Marathon Titles at the 12th Ladakh Marathon?

New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) The Ladakh Marathon concluded its record-setting 12th edition with exhilarating finishes in the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and 11.2 km Run on Sunday. In the Full Marathon, covering 42 kilometers, Hans Raj from Jammu & Kashmir finished first with a time of 2:47:41, while Stanzin Chondol from Ladakh triumphed in the women's category, clocking in at 3:13:00—a performance that also secured her the sixth position overall among all participants.

The 42 km race commenced and concluded at Leh’s NDS Stadium, attracting a robust field of runners, part of an event that witnessed participation from 6,600 athletes across various Indian states and Union Territories, alongside competitors from over 30 nations. As a qualifier for the World Marathon Majors, the Ladakh Marathon provided runners with an opportunity to secure a spot at the 2026 WMM Wanda World Age Group Championship, contingent upon achieving qualifying times in their respective categories.

Rita Satish Patkar showcased an impressive performance, becoming one of the few athletes to win both the Khardung La Challenge and the Full Marathon within a span of just two days; she secured the top position in the veteran female category for both events. In the Half Marathon, Tsetan Namgail claimed victory in the men's race with a time of 1:13:10, while Stanzin Dolkar topped the women's section, finishing in 1:30:14.

The ceremonial proceedings at the NDS Stadium were led by Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, who presented medals, trophies, and financial rewards to the winners.

During her remarks, she stated, “The Ladakh Marathon has expanded from 1,200 participants 12 years ago to over 6,500 runners this year, representing every state and Union Territory, along with over 30 countries. It is inspiring to have seasoned athletes, recognized globally, choosing to run here in Ladakh. This growth is attributed to the vision of Chewang Motup and his team, alongside the support from our sponsors and partners, particularly the LAHDC (Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council), whose contributions have made this large-scale event possible. Congratulations to all participants, and I eagerly await an even larger gathering next year.”

In the 11.2 km category, Skarma Idong Lanzes secured the women's open title with a time of 47 minutes and 30 seconds, while Sonam Stanzin clinched the men's title, finishing in 42 minutes and 39 seconds. His victory was a narrow one, finishing just 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Furboo Tundup, making it one of the most competitive races of the edition.

“I sincerely congratulate all winners and participants for making the 12th edition of the Ladakh Marathon so remarkable. This year’s unprecedented participation has reinforced the event’s status as one of India’s foremost running competitions, while also elevating its international profile. With each edition, we are not just honoring endurance and resilience but also making significant strides towards establishing the Ladakh Marathon as one of the premier global races,” remarked Chewang Motup Goba, Chairperson of the High Altitude Sports Foundation, the founder and organizer of the Ladakh Marathon.

In the veterans’ categories, Tsewang Dorjay topped the men's field while Sarah Hanan-Bajwa claimed the women's crown in the 11.2K Run. The Half Marathon titles were won by Arvind Basaiawmoit in the men's section and Shilpa Phadke in the women's. In the Full Marathon veterans, Shyamapada Das came out on top in the men’s category, complementing Patkar’s win in the women’s race.

Earlier, on Friday, five-time Guinness World Record holder Sufiya Sufi and Tsewang Kundan from the Ladakh Scouts were crowned champions of the Silk Route Ultra, the highlight of the 12th Ladakh Marathon. Shabir Hussain and Namgyal Lhamo emerged victorious in the grueling Khardung La Challenge (72 km) in their respective categories.