Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026: Legese Eyes 3rd Title, Cheptai Returns

Procam International, promoters of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, on Tuesday announced a star-studded international elite field for the 21st edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

In the men's field, Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese will headline the elite line-up with a personal best of 58:59, making him the fastest athlete among those announced for this year's Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. In the women's field, Kenya's Irine Cheptai will lead the charge with a personal best of 64:53.

The 21st edition will bring together some of the world's finest distance runners, who will compete for a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the winner in each category set to receive USD 27,000. Prize money will be awarded through to the 10th-place finisher in both the men's and women's categories, alongside separate incentives for the top Indian finishers. Apart from this, an event-record bonus of USD 12,000 is also in the offing for the elite athlete who betters the previous mark in their category.

Birhanu Legese headlines competitive men's field

Birhanu Legese will be joined by a formidable field of seven men with sub-60-minute personal bests, setting the stage for one of the most competitive men's races in the event's history. Among those looking to challenge Legese is Kenya's Charles Matata, the 2023 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon runner-up, who also finished second at the Istanbul Half Marathon earlier this year.

Two other leading Ethiopians, Deriba Tesfaye and Melaku Belachew, will add further strength to the field. Both arrive in Delhi in impressive form, with Deriba finishing second at the Rotterdam Marathon and Melaku claiming victory at the Hong Kong Marathon 2026.

Birhanu Legese targets third Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon title

While travelling to Delhi, Birhanu Legese said, "I have narrowly missed the podium in last year's race and am eager to make amends this time. It has always been a pleasure running in the Indian capital. I am doing well and looking to get in great shape before race day this year."

Irine Cheptai faces strong challenge in women's field

In the women's field, VDHM 2022 winner, Kenya's Irine Cheptai, a Platinum Level athlete with a personal best of 64:53, will have a tough challenge on her hands in Delhi this year. The women's field will also feature last year's silver medallist, Ethiopia's Melal Siyoum Biratu, and Kenya's Cynthia Limo, the 2024 runner-up.

A Kenyan-born athlete competing under the Israeli flag, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter will be another dark horse to watch. Salpeter won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships and has also won multiple medals for Israel at the European Championships.

Speaking about her chances this year, Irine said: "I know there are several young runners who will be competing at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. But I have the experience of running in Delhi, and I am confident of challenging for the podium and fighting for my second title here."

Irine Cheptai arrives in Delhi in impressive form, having won the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai in February before finishing sixth at the Boston Marathon. Her recent performances underline her credentials as a strong contender for the title in Delhi.

Procam International expects highly competitive 21st edition

Vivek Singh, the Joint Managing Director of Procam International, said, "As we step into the third decade of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, we have witnessed remarkable milestones from record participation and new event records to some of the world's finest elite athletes making their mark on the Delhi course. Each edition has raised the bar, and this year promises to be no different.

Further adding, "The elite field assembled for the 21st edition is a testament to the stature of the event on the global running calendar. With a highly competitive line-up, we expect every athlete to push their limits, challenge existing benchmarks and inspire the global running community with performances of the highest order."

This year's Half Marathon will feature 36 of the world's top athletes, who will vie for the men's and women's titles, comprising 18 men and 18 women athletes.