Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026: Irine Cheptai Returns as Birhanu Legese Chases Third Title

The streets of the national capital are set for another high-quality distance-running contest as the 21st Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon brings together established international champions and India’s emerging road-running talent on Sunday. 

While Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese seeks a third title at the event, Kenya’s Irine Cheptai returns to a course where she has previously triumphed, carrying the affection of fans who know her as the ‘Queen of India’.

The World Athletics Gold Label Race offers a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the men’s and women’s winners each set to receive USD 27,000. An additional USD 12,000 event-record bonus adds another incentive for athletes capable of producing an exceptional performance.

Yet the build-up to this year’s race is not simply about previous victories or personal bests. Questions surrounding recovery, preparation and the depth of the Indian elite field could shape Sunday’s contests.

Few international runners arrive with a stronger connection to the event than Birhanu Legese. The Ethiopian, already a two-time winner in Delhi, is targeting another victory after missing the podium last year.

Legese believes his preparations have gone well and is approaching the race with confidence. His recent training in Kaptagat alongside marathon great Eliud Kipchoge has been an important part of his preparation, with the Ethiopian explaining that traffic and other challenges in Addis Ababa influenced his decision to train elsewhere.

“I am in good shape and have trained well, and we will see on Sunday. I like Delhi; it is almost like a second home,” Legese said His familiarity with the city and the race could prove valuable, but the field includes competitors arriving with strong recent results of their own.

Kenya’s Charles Matata is one such challenger. His victory at the Riga Half Marathon in Latvia earlier this year, where he clocked 59:15, underlines his credentials. Working with the Kenyan police, Matata credits his consistency to training alongside strong groups and maintaining a winning mentality.

“I personally love half marathons. I am also good at speed work,” he said, expressing confidence in his ability to compete for the title. With Legese pursuing a third Delhi crown and Matata arriving after a significant international victory, the men’s contest promises a compelling battle between experience and current form.

Cheptai Returns Despite Recovery Concerns

In the women’s race, Irine Cheptai brings an impressive record at the event and a strong season behind her. The Kenyan won the Dubai Half Marathon in February before finishing second at the Sydney Marathon in August.

However, the demands of the marathon have left her managing her recovery ahead of Sunday's race. Cheptai took a two-week break after Sydney before resuming training and has acknowledged that she is not yet at her best.

“I am still recovering, and I wouldn't say I am in top shape at the moment, but I will do my best on Sunday,” she said. Her comments introduce an element of uncertainty into the women’s contest. Cheptai’s familiarity with Delhi and her previous success make her a significant name in the field, but her ability to recover sufficiently will be crucial.

Another athlete to watch is Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, the Kenyan-born Israeli runner who won a marathon bronze medal at the World Championships four years ago. Training extensively in Iten, Kenya, Salpeter is continuing her comeback from a hamstring injury sustained in May.

Sunday will also mark her first visit to India.

“I am proud to represent Israel. People there have embraced me and are always proud of me,” Salpeter said, while acknowledging that she is still returning to full fitness. Both athletes bring considerable international experience, but their respective recovery situations mean race-day performance will ultimately determine their prospects.

The domestic competition will be another major storyline, with several Indian athletes aiming to convert recent progress into stronger results on home soil. Kiran Matre, last year’s runner-up, returns after a personal-best performance of 1:04:57 in the previous edition. A hip injury disrupted his preparations earlier this year, but he remains focused on producing his best possible race.

In the women’s field, Lily Das will look to improve on her fourth-place finish last year. The 2024 Indian Elite Women's champion clocked 1:16:27 in 2025, improving her previous year’s time by two minutes but still missing the podium.

Das expects another competitive contest and identified Ankita Dhyani as a strong rival.

Dhyani, who brings considerable track-running experience to the roads, made her half-marathon debut at Delhi last year and finished fifth among Indian elite women in 1:17:52. With limited experience at the distance, she intends to approach the race tactically rather than get carried away by the pace.

Dr. Kartik Karkera is another Indian athlete whose progression will be worth following. After finishing 10th in 2024 and third in 2025, he will seek another step forward. His international debut representing India at the Asian Games earlier this year adds to the experience he brings into the competition.

“I try to focus on consistent progression over perfection. I still feel the half marathon is one of my favourite distances,” Karkera said.

The top three finishers in both Indian elite categories will receive INR 3.5 lakh, INR 2.5 lakh and INR 1.5 lakh, respectively. An additional INR 1 lakh incentive is available for setting a new Indian Elite record. For the international stars, Sunday offers a chance to add another significant result to their careers. For India’s leading distance runners, it represents an opportunity to measure their progress against a competitive field and establish new benchmarks.

Legese will chase a third Delhi title, Cheptai will attempt to overcome her recovery concerns, and Matre, Das, Dhyani and Karkera will seek to make the home challenge count.

The 21st Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is therefore set up as more than a contest of established reputations. It is a test of preparation, tactical judgement and the ability to deliver when the race begins to unfold.

On Sunday, Delhi will discover which athletes can turn their ambitions into results.