The 40th edition of the All India Prize Money Indira Marathon, held on Wednesday to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, commenced from her ancestral home, Anand Bhavan, in Prayagraj.
The 42.195-km race began at 6:30 am, drawing more than 500 enthusiastic runners from across the country.
Drum beats, cheering crowds, and vibrant local participation kept the runners’ spirits high throughout the course.
Men’s Category: Pradeep Emerges as the New Champion
Uttarakhand’s Pradeep Singh Chaudhary delivered a remarkable performance, securing the top position with a time of 2:19:58, marking his first-ever marathon win.
He was followed by Gyan Babu from Pratapgarh, who finished second at 2:20:35, and Prayagraj’s Rohit Saroj, who secured third place with 2:22:43.
Pradeep, who had finished fourth in 2023, showcased exceptional endurance this time.
Although Rohit took an early lead and maintained a strong 100-metre advantage for the first 26 kilometres, he was eventually overtaken by Pradeep and Gyan.
Pradeep gradually built a sizeable lead in the final five kilometres, securing his victory decisively. This last segment of the race ultimately determined the top three positions.
Women’s Category: Reenu Claims the Title Again
In the women’s division, Haryana’s Reenu—runner-up in the previous edition—returned to reclaim the championship with an impressive timing of 2:53:02.
Maharashtra’s Ashwini Madan Jadhav finished second with 2:53:32, while seasoned marathoner Jyoti Shankar Gavte secured the third position with 3:04:48.
Both Ashwini and Jyoti had achieved the same positions in 2022 as well.
Reenu, who previously clocked 3:01:57 last year and 2:58:16 before that, took control of the race after the 15-kilometre mark and maintained her lead until the finish line. Ashwini and Jyoti held their respective positions consistently throughout.
Prize Distribution
In both men’s and women’s categories:
- Winner: ₹2,00,000
- Runner-up: ₹1,00,000
- Third place: ₹75,000
- 4th to 14th places: ₹10,000 each
Flag-off and Prize Ceremony
Prayagraj Division Commissioner Saumya Agarwal flagged off the marathon at Anand Bhavan.
The prize distribution ceremony was held at Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium, where Dr R.P. Singh, Director of Sports, Uttar Pradesh, graced the event as the chief guest.
The marathon concluded with celebrations honouring the athletic excellence displayed by participants from across India.
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