416 Indian runners, including 57 sari-clad women, participated in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Heroes like 26/11’s Praveen Teotia and 65-year-old Vidya Bendle completed the 90-km race.
Durban–Pietermaritzburg | June 21: In a time when marathons are becoming a lifestyle trend across India, the world’s toughest ultramarathon—the Comrades Marathon in South Africa—saw a powerful wave of Indian runners making their mark, not just with endurance, but with culture, courage, and resilience.
This 90-kilometer ultramarathon, held between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, is known as one of the most grueling races in the world. Started in 1921, the race has been held almost every year except during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is steeped in legacy and determination, and this year was its 98th edition, with 20,500 runners participating—90% of them local South Africans.
From India, 416 runners braved this challenging course, including 57 women, all of whom proudly ran the ultramarathon draped in traditional Indian saris—a unique and symbolic moment that highlighted the blend of athleticism and cultural pride. The marathon also holds a symbolic connection to India—Mahatma Gandhi once faced racial discrimination in the same region, leading to his first Satyagraha.
Among the standout Indian participants:
- Praveen Kumar Teotia, a 26/11 Mumbai terror attack hero and former Marine commando, defied odds after being shot in the line of duty. He has conquered the Ironman triathlon, the Khardung La Challenge, and now the Comrades Marathon.
- Suresh Velankar from Thane, now 58, lost a hand in childhood but didn’t let that stop him. He ran the 90 km with one arm, already having numerous marathons and a 550-km Mumbai-Goa cycle ride under his belt.
- ACP Sainath Thombre of Pune Police juggled law enforcement and training. “The Comrades Marathon teaches discipline in life,” he said, proud of his achievement.
- Vishwas Mote, an officer in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, who had already completed the Ironman challenge, also finished the Comrades Marathon.
- Vidya Bendle, a 65-year-old woman from Jalgaon, was the oldest Indian female runner in this year’s event. Having taken up the challenge just a year ago, her perseverance and training paid off as she completed the race with determination.
With India’s growing obsession with marathon culture, stories like these are no longer rare—they are redefining what it means to run, to endure, and to represent one’s country and spirit on global soil.
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