Ethiopia News: The Ethiopian runners have proved to be very impressive at the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026, winning both the elite titles in the men and women categories. While Emane Seifu emerged winner in the women’s race, Seboka Negusse won the title in the men’s race, and runners from India too did well in the race.
The 15th edition of Hyderabad Marathon featured top runners from Ethiopia, Kenya and India along with many recreational runners. This race is now regarded as one of the biggest city marathons in India.
Ethiopia Takes Both Elite Crowns
The athletes from Ethiopia shone in both the categories.
Emane Seifu grabbed the top spot in the ladies’ category in 2:46:29, whereas her fellow countrywoman Tsega Desta bagged the second position in 2:46:57. Teresiah Omosa from Kenya grabbed the third position in the ladies’ category in 2:47:17.
In the men’s category, the champion was also an Ethiopian, Seboka Negusse in 2:20
Seboka Negusse Wins Men’s Race
The men’s competition produced a particularly close finish.
Negusse recorded 2:20:57, while Kenya’s Felix Kimutai posted the same listed time to finish second. Kenyan runner Francis Cheruiyot came third in 2:21:29.
The narrow contest demonstrated the high level of competition among the international elite runners.
Gopi Thonakal Leads Indian Men
Indian distance running received a major boost through Gopi Thonakal, who finished fourth overall.
He completed the marathon in 2:21:46, placing him directly behind the international podium finishers. His performance made him the leading Indian male athlete in the elite field.
Nirmaben Thakor Tops Indian Women
In the women’s race, Nirmaben Thakor was India’s leading finisher.
She stopped the clock at 2:50:20 to finish sixth overall in the women’s elite competition. Bhagirathi Bisht followed her in 2:51:41.
Ethiopia’s Women Deliver a One-Two
The women’s elite race was particularly successful for Ethiopia.
Seifu and Desta separated themselves from the field to secure the top two positions. Their performances gave Ethiopia a clear sweep of the women’s first and second places as well as the overall women’s title.
International Field Adds Competition
The Hyderabad event featured athletes from several countries.
Ethiopia and Kenya provided the strongest international challenge to the Indian contingent, producing multiple podium finishers across the men’s and women’s races.
More Than 12,000 Runners Take Part
The marathon attracted a large field beyond the elite competition.
More than 12,000 runners participated in the full and half-marathon categories, with over 8,500 taking part in the half marathon and more than 3,500 competing over the full 42.2-kilometre distance.
32,000 Registrations Across Events
The wider 2026 marathon programme recorded approximately 32,000 registrations across the different race categories.
Alongside the full and half marathons, the event included 10K, 5K and Inclusive Run categories, making the programme much broader than the elite marathon races alone.
Tribal Youth Make Marathon Debut
One of the notable initiatives involved young tribal runners from Chhattisgarh.
Around 184 tribal participants from Bastar took part in the marathon, many experiencing the event as their first major marathon competition. The initiative was linked to NMDC’s activities in the region and its efforts to identify and encourage emerging sporting talent.
A Platform for Indian Distance Running
The strong performances by Gopi Thonakal and Nirmaben Thakor added another important dimension to the event.
Although international athletes occupied the top positions, Indian runners remained competitive and several finished among the leading athletes. This provides valuable exposure for India’s developing long-distance running scene.
Prize Money Raises the Stakes
The elite race offered substantial financial incentives.
The winner received ₹3 lakh, while second and third place carried prizes of ₹2.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh. Additional rewards were available for fourth through sixth place, while separate bonuses were offered for course and Indian national records.
Hyderabad Embraces Running
The event has become a major part of Hyderabad’s sporting calendar.
The city’s large running community, extensive road network and growing reputation for hosting major events have helped the marathon establish itself as an important fixture in India’s distance-running season.
Police Support the Event
The scale of the marathon required significant traffic and security planning.
Hundreds of police personnel and traffic marshals were deployed to manage the route, particularly because parts of the course passed through the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate area.
Charity Remains Part of the Marathon
The event also has a social-impact component.
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon supports around 40 NGOs and has generated more than ₹2 crore for charitable organisations through the event, according to the organisers.
Women’s Participation Recognised
Corporate participation was another feature of this year’s event.
Novartis Healthcare was recognised for recording the highest percentage of women participants, highlighting the increasing involvement of women in organised running events.
Ethiopia’s Growing Presence in African Athletics
The Hyderabad results underline Ethiopia’s continued strength in long-distance running.
The country has a long history of producing world-class distance athletes, and the victories by Seifu and Negusse demonstrate that Ethiopian runners continue to perform strongly on international road-racing circuits.
Kenya Also Makes Its Mark
Kenyan athletes were prominent throughout the elite results.
Felix Kimutai and Francis Cheruiyot occupied two men’s podium positions, while Teresiah Omosa finished third in the women’s race. The performances showed the continued rivalry between the two East African distance-running powers.
India Gains Valuable International Exposure
For Indian runners, competing against elite athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya provides an opportunity to measure progress against some of the world’s strongest distance-running nations.
The performances of Thonakal and Thakor were particularly notable because both finished among the leading competitors in their respective fields.
BRICS24 News: Ethiopia’s Sporting Success
For BRICS24 News, the Hyderabad Marathon results provide a positive sporting development involving Ethiopia and India.
The event brought athletes from several countries together while creating opportunities for Indian runners to compete against established international talent.
Brics 24: Indian and African Athletes Compete
For Brics 24 readers, the marathon demonstrates how international sporting events can create closer connections between African and Asian athletes.
Ethiopia’s success and India’s strong domestic showing were among the most important storylines from the competition.
Conclusion
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026 produced a strong international showing, with Ethiopia claiming both elite titles through Emane Seifu and Seboka Negusse. Kenya also secured multiple podium places, while Indian athletes remained highly competitive throughout the leading positions.
Gopi Thonakal’s fourth-place finish made him India’s leading male runner, while Nirmaben Thakor topped the Indian women’s field. Their performances provided a positive result for India’s distance-running programme while giving domestic athletes valuable experience against established African competitors. India Sports News, Africa Sports News, BRICS24 News, Brics 24, BRICS News, BRICS News Today, and TOP News, the 2026 edition offers a strong example of growing international participation in Indian road racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon men’s elite title?
Ethiopia’s Seboka Negusse won the men’s elite marathon in 2:20:57.
2. Who won the women’s elite race?
Ethiopia’s Emane Seifu took the women’s title in 2:46:29.
3. Who was India’s leading male runner?
Gopi Thonakal was the leading Indian male finisher, placing fourth overall with a time of 2:21:46.
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