Mumbai, 6th January 2016: On Sunday, 17th January 2016, Mumbai will host the 13th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM), an event that sparked the running revolution for India. The roads of Mumbai will be graced by some of the finest long distance athletes from across the world along with other running enthusiasts who put their best foot forward to achieve their desired goals.
The marathon that has engulfed the city of Mumbai and the nation has never before seen such an overwhelming response. Despite the strict timing criteria and cut-off dropped by 15mins for all age groups, the half marathon registrations were shut within a week of the registrations announcement. The Full Marathon for the first time is a compulsory timed category with over 5000 runners. This is a testimony to the growth of running as a serious sport in India.
A total of 40, 285 runners from different corners of the world will take centre-stage at the 13th edition of SCMM. This includes 14,431 registrations for the Half Marathon while Dream Run received 18,934 entries. Other categories like DHL Corporate Champions received 364 entries, Sr. Citizen Run had 899 entries, Champions with Disability received 363 entries and Police cup with 64 registrations.
Asia’s richest marathon with a prize money of USD 3,77,000 will witness an array of Indian & international athletes at the start line. Leading the international pack will be course record holders, Jackson Kiprop and Valentine Kipketer gunning for the title amongst other world-class athletes. The Indian contingent will be lead by the Olympic trio of OP Jaisha, Sudha Singh and Lalita Babar.
Asics Finishers Tee: Sports Goods Partner, Asics, this year exclusively launched the SCMM Asics Finishers Tee. Designed and created by its renowned team, this premium Tee will be awarded to the first 1000 Half and Full Marathon finishers.
Edwin Moses, International Event Ambassador: Edwin Corley Moses is a former American track and field athlete, an Olympic legend and now the International Event Ambassador for SCMM 2016. He is remembered for one of the most dominant reigns in world sport.
For a remarkable nine years, nine months and nine days, he remained invincible in the 400 meters hurdles, being unbeaten between 1977 and 1987 with 122 consecutive races (107 finals). Bounding over the ten three-foot obstacles, he took an unprecedented 13 steps in between the hurdles instead of the usual 14. His exceptional style remains the ultimate demonstration of power, speed, and elegance.
On his association with the event, he said, “It feels great to be a part of a marathon that started it all for India. I am honoured by being the Event Ambassador and would be more than happy to extend my support to all the participants across this diverse country. I have admired long distance runners and the challenge, perseverance it takes to run 42 km or 22 km is remarkable and highly commendable. Hope that my presence at the event helps to motivate and encourage each participant, and inspires them to reach their full potential. Impossible is only a state of mind!”
By the time he retired from the sport in 1989, Moses had won two Olympic gold medals, in Montreal in 1976 and Los Angeles in 1984 and bronze in Seoul in 1988. In 1983, he broke the world record for the fourth time in Koblenz, Germany, with a time of 47.02, a mark that stood for the next nine years. During his career, he won three World Cup titles and two World-Championships.
Moses founded the Laureus World Sports Academy in 1999. In 2000, he was elected the first Chairman of the Academy, a unique association of forty-two of the greatest living sporting legends who volunteer their time in this noble cause.
