THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, OCTOBER 18, 2026
Kenya’s Charles
Matata shattered the men’s course record with a sensational 58:52 effort to
clinch the elite title at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026 here on
Sunday, while Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu reigned supreme in the women’s
category.
Matata clocked a
personal best to finish one second faster than the previous course record,
underlining his dominance in the 21.097-km race at the World Athletics Gold Label
event, which witnessed the participation of nearly 40,000 runners across the
national capital.
The Kenyan led a
commanding show by his compatriots, with Samwel Nyamai Mailu finishing second
and Stanley Waithaka Mburu taking third place to complete an all-Kenyan podium
in the men’s elite race.
In the women’s elite
category, Alemu crossed the finish line in 1:06:35 to secure the title. Her
compatriot Selah Businei finished second, while Kenya’s Cynthia Chelangat
Chepkwony claimed third place.
Indian athletes also made their mark, with Shailesh Kushwaha and Ankita Dhyani emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s Indian elite categories, respectively.
The annual road-running spectacle once again brought together elite international athletes and thousands of running enthusiasts, turning the streets of the national capital into a celebration of endurance and sporting excellence.
