In a highly anticipated face-off, the 18th Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, distinguished as a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, is set to ignite the Indian capital on Sunday, 15 October 2023. The event promises an exhilarating clash of titans, featuring Kenya’s illustrious 10,000m World Championships silver medalist, Daniel Ebenyo, and Ethiopia’s powerhouse, Almaz Ayana, the reigning 2017 Delhi half-marathon champion.
Almaz Ayana, a double World title-holder in 2015 (5,000m) and 2017 (10,000m), and the gold medalist in the 2016 Olympic 10,000m, etched her name in the annals of the event’s history with a spectacular performance in the 13th edition back in 2017. With palpable excitement, Almaz expressed, “I am very excited to run the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. It was here that I ran the world’s fastest half marathon debut in 2017. After giving birth and returning among the best athletes in the world, I look forward to coming back to the streets of Delhi and trying to be better than ever!”
Fresh off a personal best of 1:05:30 in Lisbon earlier this year, Almaz now sets her sights on eclipsing the Delhi course record of 1:04:46, held by compatriot Yalemzerf Yehualaw since 2020.
Meanwhile, Daniel Simiyu Ebenyo, the silver medalist from the World Championships, demonstrated his mettle with an impressive time of 59:04 in the half-marathon last year in Manama. His timing is tantalizingly close to the Delhi course record of 58:53, heightening the anticipation surrounding his performance at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.
A formidable contingent from Kenya, including Roncer Konga (59:08), Leonard Barsoton (59:09), Isaac Kipkemboi (59:17), and Isaiyah Lasoi (59:27), along with Ethiopian Tesfahun Akalnew (59:22), is primed to deliver a fierce competition. Barsoton and Akalnew, who clinched the fifth and sixth positions respectively in Delhi three years ago, are determined to ascend the podium in 2023.
The women’s race promises an equally riveting showdown, as Almaz Ayana faces stiff competition from her youthful counterpart, Betelihem Afenigus. At a mere 22 years of age, Afenigus has already showcased her prowess in five half-marathons this year, boasting a Personal Best of 1:06:46, achieved after securing second place in Paris in March. Kenyan Viola Chepngeno, with eight elite half-marathon races under her belt and a formidable time of 1:06:48 at Berlin 2022, is another contender that demands close attention.
With an impressive total prize pool of USD 268,000, the event is poised to draw tens of thousands of amateur enthusiasts alongside the world’s top athletes on one of the swiftest courses globally. The International Elite winners in both the men’s and women’s categories will each claim USD 27,000, with prize money extending to the top 10 finishers in each category. Additionally, a tantalizing Event Record Bonus of USD 12,000 is up for grabs.
Procam International, renowned for their pioneering role in distance running events in India, spearheads the event, with Vedanta serving as the title sponsor—a globally diversified natural resources company. Other key sponsors include the exclusive Associate Sponsor IDFC FIRST Bank, an ethical and technologically advanced bank in India dedicated to social good.
While New Delhi successfully hosted the World Half Marathon Championships in 2004, the city yearned for a marquee event of its own until Procam embarked on this annual extravaganza. Vivek Singh, Jt. MD, Procam International, reflected, “A city that did not run, today is home to one of the fastest and biggest half marathons in the World. It is our privilege to host such remarkable athletes for the 18th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The event evokes a sense of pride and camaraderie and ownership among all our stakeholders.”
Registration for all physical race categories—Half marathon, Open 10K, Great Delhi Run (Approx. 4.5km), Senior Citizens’ Run (Approx. 2.5km), and the Champions with Disability Run (Approx. 2.5km)—is now open. The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is scheduled for 15th October 2023. Don’t miss this epic clash of athletic titans!
