Durgapur International Marath

Sports

Durgapur International Marathon 2026 Draws 3,000 Runners

Durgapur etched its name on India’s sporting map with the resounding success of the inaugural Durgapur International Marathon 2026 – ‘Run for Unity’, held on Sunday, 25 January 2026, as a flagship event of the Lalbaba Rice Durgapur Sports Carnival 2026, organised by Durgapur Club Samannay.

The landmark marathon witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 3,000 runners, cutting across age groups and backgrounds, competing in 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 2 km race categories. The vibrant turnout reaffirmed the city’s growing sporting spirit and its readiness to host large-scale national sporting events.

Winners & Timings

21 km (Half Marathon)

• Women’s Category: Renu Singh clinched first place with an impressive timing of 1:18:58 hrs

• Men’s Category: Panchanan Bera emerged winner, clocking 1:05:24 hrs

10 km Run

• Women’s Category: Pooja Verma secured first position with a timing of 34:05 minutes

• Men’s Category: Subham Baliyan topped the category, finishing in 30:01 minutes

The marathon offered a total prize purse of ?5 lakh across competitive categories, along with official T-shirts, finisher medals, and digitally timed certificates for all registered runners.

As a major highlight of the Lalbaba Rice Durgapur Sports Carnival 2026, the marathon was complemented by multiple indoor and outdoor sporting disciplines including Badminton, Basketball, Kho-Kho, Table Tennis, Football, and Cricket, with events for both men and women. The initiative received strong institutional support from the Bengal Olympic Association (BOA), underscoring its commitment to grassroots sports development.

Several eminent personalities graced the event, including Mr. Jose Barreto, Former Indian Footballer; MS. Soma Biswas, Asian Gold medalist, Ms. Himashree Roy, Asian Bronze medalist, Ms. Saini Sarkar, Mrs India; Mr. Chandan Roy Choudhury, President, Bengal Olympic Association; Mr. Partha Sarathi Nandy, Director, Lalbaba Rice; Mr. Sundeep De, President, Durgapur Club Samannay; and Mr. Prasanta Saha, Race Director.

Speaking after the successful conclusion of the event, Mr. Sundeep De, President, Durgapur Club Samannay, said, “The overwhelming participation and flawless execution of the inaugural Durgapur International Marathon reaffirm our belief that Durgapur is ready to emerge as a major sporting hub. This event is a step towards nurturing a strong sports culture and inspiring youth to embrace fitness, discipline, and excellence.”

Mr. Partha Sarathi Nandy, Director, Lalbaba Rice, added, “Sports are fundamental to holistic human development. Our association with the Durgapur International Marathon reflects Lalbaba Rice’s core values of promoting fitness, unity, and social progress. We are proud to support initiatives that empower youth and contribute to building a healthier and more resilient society.”

With its successful debut, the Durgapur International Marathon has set a strong foundation to become an annual sporting landmark, reinforcing Durgapur’s growing stature in India’s sports ecosystem.