Fellow Kenyans Samwel Nyamai Mailu:<\/b> Kenya's Charles Matata shattered the men\u2019s course record to win the elite race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026 on Sunday, clocking 58:52 to finish one second faster than the previous mark. Ethiopia\u2019s Wudinesh Alemu claimed the women\u2019s elite title in 1:06:35 as nearly 40,000 runners took to the streets of the national capital for the World Athletics Gold Label event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Matata\u2019s performance also marked a personal best, underlining his dominant run in the men\u2019s race. Fellow Kenyans Samwel Nyamai Mailu and Stanley Waithaka Mburu finished second and third, respectively, to complete an all-Kenyan podium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the women\u2019s elite category, Alemu secured the top spot ahead of compatriot Selah Businei, while Kenya\u2019s Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony finished third.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s Shailesh Kushwaha and Ankita Dhyani emerged as the winners in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Indian elite categories, respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The races were flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with Arun Misra, CEO of Vedanta Group. Vice Admiral Atul Anand was also present at the event. The dignitaries flagged off various categories, including the elite and mass-participation half marathons, Police Cup, Champions with Disability, Senior Citizens Run, Open 10K and Great Delhi Run.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Boxing legend Mary Kom, badminton Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat and tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi also lent their support to the event, which brought together elite competitors and recreational runners in a celebration of sporting excellence and participation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Beyond the racing action, the 2026 edition continued the event\u2019s association with the #RunForZeroHunger initiative. Participants collectively contributed 50 lakh meals this year, taking the cumulative impact of the campaign to more than 2.7 crore meals across five editions and marking five years of Vedanta\u2019s association with the Delhi Half Marathon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Boxing legend Mary Kom, badminton Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat and tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi also lent their support to the event, which brought together elite competitors and recreational runners in a celebration of sporting excellence and participation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n