Delhi Half Marathon 2026: 40,000 Runners Sprint to Fight Hunger
Over 40,000 runners joined the Delhi Half Marathon 2026 to fight hunger. Charles Matata set a new course record in a thrilling race.
The streets of the national capital were transformed into a sea of energy and determination as the Delhi Half Marathon 2026 saw an overwhelming turnout of more than 40,000 participants. More than just a race, the event served as a powerful movement under the #RunForZeroHunger initiative, blending athletic excellence with a mission to combat malnutrition.
The event was officially flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah. They were joined by senior leadership from Vedanta, including Group CEO Arun Misra, and Vice Admiral Atul Anand, who together started the various race categories.
Record-Breaking Pace: Matata Smashes the Clock
The elite men's category witnessed a historic moment as Kenya’s Charles Matata surged to victory, shattering the existing course record. Matata clocked a stunning time of 58:52, beating the previous record by a razor-thin margin of one second and setting a new personal best.
The podium for the men's elite race was dominated by Kenyan talent, with Samwel Nyamai Mailu and Stanley Waithaka Mburu securing the second and third positions, respectively.
In the women's elite race, Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu claimed the top spot with a time of 1:06:35. She was followed by Selah Businei and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony, who finished second and third.
Indian Stars Shine
The domestic talent also put up a formidable show. In the Indian elite categories, Shailesh Kushwaha emerged victorious in the men's section, while Ankita Dhyani took the gold for the women.
Running for a Cause: #RunForZeroHunger
The World Athletics Gold Label event carried a deep social purpose. Through the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s (AAF) Nand Ghar and TACO initiatives, every kilometre run by the participants translated into one meal for a child or an animal in need.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd., highlighted the impact of this collective effort. She noted that the 40,000 runners helped achieve the target of 5 million meals for the 2026 edition. This brings the total cumulative impact of the #RunForZeroHunger campaign to over 2.7 crore meals across five editions, marking five years of Vedanta's partnership with the marathon.
Diverse Categories and Grassroots Growth
The event was inclusive, featuring a wide array of race categories to ensure everyone could participate, including:
- Half Marathon Elite
- Police Cup
- Champions with Disability and Senior Citizens Run
- Open 10K
- Great Delhi Run
Beyond the capital, Vedanta continues to push the boundaries of sports in India through Vedanta Sports. The organization is investing in grassroots talent via residential football academies in Goa and Rajasthan, archery programs in Odisha and Jharkhand, and support for hockey through the Kalinga Lancers. The group also promotes emerging sports like padel and organizes city marathons in Jaipur, Udaipur, Bengaluru, and Mumbai to encourage active lifestyles across the country.