Defending champions Berhanu and Minsewo will return to defend their titles at the 2025 Tata Mumbai Marathon

Ethiopia’s defending champions Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo are returning to race at the 2025 Tata Mumbai Marathon. Mumbai is a World Athletics Gold Label Race, scheduled for Sunday, January 19.

Berhanu will attempt a hat trick of wins after his back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. If successful, he will be the first runner to achieve this honour in the twenty years of the race.  

Kenyan John Kelai, who won in 2007 and 2008, attempted in 2009 but managed to get only a third place.  Although Ethiopian woman Mulu Seboka secured three victories in Mumbai, she skipped the 2007 edition before claiming her third title. 

The first three finishers in both men’s and women’s categories will receive $50,000 (USD), $25,000 and $15,000, respectively. The prize purse is set at $390,238. An award of $15,000 awaits those who break the existing event records in their respective categories. Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu (2:07:32) and Anchialem Haymanot (2:24:15) have held the event records since 2023.

The 2025 field includes eleven men and six women who have personal bests faster than the existing course records. 

Commenting on the stellar line-up of elite athletes, Vivek Singh, Jt. MD. A spokesperson for Procam International said, “The return of defending champions, Berhanu and Minsewo augurs well going into the 20^th edition of the marathon. This race has been the catalyst for the success of the sport of distance running in India, and this elite line-up is a testimony to the growing popularity of TMM worldwide. We wish all participants Godspeed and good luck, as they prepare to go the distance on Sunday, January 19^th.”

The men’s race

Apart from Berhanu, the men’s roster included Kenya’s Philemon Cherop Rono, who finished runner-up in the 2023 edition here.  Another runner on the list with previous Mumbai outings is Eritrean Merhawi Kesete, who finished ninth place the same year.  However, the best from 2020 batch who is making another appearance this time is Abdi Ali Gelchu. He was the fifth-place finisher in his previous entrance in Mumbai.  Gelchu, the Asian junior cross-country champion in 2016, has migrated from Ethiopia. He has run for his adopted country Bahrain, from 2014 onwards.     

Two promising names to challenge Berhanu this time will be his country-mates Asrar Aberrehman Hiyrden (2:04:43) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57). 

Regarding his preparations, Berhanu said, “Last year I was really close to the course record. The crowd support along the course was great.  I missed improving the course record in 2024, but I will try my best to make it this time. I am confident in having a shot at it.”

The women’s race

The women’s side looks even more competitive for reigning champion Aberash Minsewo. The Ethiopian, who clocked 2:26:06 to win here in her debut in 2024. It is her only marathon race. She expects tough competition from more than a dozen runners with superior marks achieved elsewhere. 

Only two women from her country, Mulu Seboka and Dinknesh Mekash, logged more than one win in Mumbai. 

The 2016 winner Shuko Genemo (who finished 3rd two years later) and Feyisa Adanech Anbesa (10th in 2023) are returning.

Kenyan Joyce Tele clocked an impressive 2:20:17 on her debut marathon to win in Ljubljana (Slovakia) earlier this year. Meanwhile Shitaye Eshete with 2:21:33 logged in the same time in 2019, will be going head-to-head. Genemo timed 2:21:35 for silver earlier this year in Barcelona. She finished third in Frankfurt during her 2024 campaign, joining the fray to challenge Minsewo.         

Ethiopians also field strong runners in Tigist Getnet (2:23:17), Feyisa Adanech (2:24:07) and Asimarech Naga (2:24:13).

Minsewo said, “I was happy to win my first-ever marathon title on debut. Mumbai is a lucky place, and I have not run any marathons elsewhere thereafter.  With a strong field entered in 2025, I am confident of improving my performance and retaining the title”.   

The Tata Mumbai Marathon is one of the designated marathon races to qualify for the World Championships. The 2025 edition will be in Tokyo in September 2025.

The elites