Pune International Marathon To See 15,000 Runners, Including 70 International Athletes
Pune International Marathon To See 15,000 Runners, Including 70 International Athletes
Pune, December 2, 2025: Pune International Marathon, the country’s first international marathon, is celebrating its 39th year. This year, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 3 am, the 42.195 km full marathon for men and women will start from Hotel Kalpana-Vishwa near Sanas Ground. From the same location, the start for men’s and women’s half marathon, 10 km, 5 km, and wheelchair races will also take place. More than 70 foreign athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka will participate. In total, over 15,000 runners will compete in 11 groups. Preparations have been completed and like every year, the Marathon Bhavan is hosting the Expo exhibition.
This year, previous champion Jyoti Gawte, 2023 runner-up Kenyan athlete Simon Mwaogi, along with top athletes from the Army, Railways, Police, Army Sports Institute (ASI), Bombay Sappers, SRPF, NDA will participate. The race route is certified by AIMS International. Pune Municipal Corporation will award prizes worth 35 lakh rupees to the winners.
On Sunday, 30 November 2025, a mock drill was conducted by 75 cycle pilots of Cycloholics Club from 4 to 6 am along the race route. Ad. Samrat Raote, Rohan More, Sumant Waikar and Umesh Jadhav supervised entire route operations.
For this event, 50 referees and technical officials from the Pune District Amateur Athletics Association and 20 motorcycle pilots will take part. Under the leadership of Secretary Raju Kulkarni, international referees Chandrakant Patil, Vijay Bengale, Rohit Ghag and others will officiate. They will be guided by Sumant Waikar, Race Director and Vasant Gokhale, Technical Race Director. Their mock drill will be conducted on Friday, December 5 from 5 to 7 am along the course. The Expo exhibition and distribution of T shirts and bib numbers will begin on Friday, December 5. The Expo will be inaugurated on Friday, December 5 at 10:30 am at the Marathon Bhavan ground by Sarhad organization’s Founder President Sanjay Nahar and Maharashtra Mandal Chairperson Neha Damle, in presence of Arjuna Award winners Shakuntala Khatavkar, Rekha Bhide, Smita Shirole Yadav, Surekha Dravid, Shantaram Jadhav, Umesh Zirpe and Joint Race Director Gurbans Kaur.
A well-equipped medical team has been set up for this marathon under the leadership of Society of Emergency Medicines’ Dr. Rajendra Jagtap. A team of 80 doctors and 300 paramedics and physiotherapists will work. A small 25-bed mini-hospital will be set up at Sanas Ground. These services will be provided at booths every kilometer along the marathon route. 108 ambulances will be available along the route and at the start and finish points. Dr. Sachin Lakde, Dr. Priyank Jawale, Dr. Munindra Sawant, Dr. Sumit Jagtap, Dr. Shivcharan Gandhar, Dr. Nupur Jadhav, Dr. Yuvraj Jagtap, Dr. Satyajit Chavan, Dr. Deepak Khairnar are part of the committee.
The Medical Committee seminar was held on Saturday, November 29 from 2 pm to 7 pm at Marathon Bhavan and was attended by the doctors. They discussed injuries and accidents during the marathon, heart conditions, dehydration and how to give emergency treatment.
Drinking water, one doctor, three nursing staff and one ambulance will be stationed at every kilometer from Sanas Ground along the route. Every 2.5 km, feeding booths, energy drinks, fruits, sponging (water booths) and all other arrangements are made as per the rules and standards of World Athletics and Athletics Federation of India, New Delhi.
Teams from Bharati Nursing College, Sancheti Physio College, Symbiosis Institute, Navale Hospital and Medical College, Vishwaraj Nursing College, Arogyam Medical Team, Navi Mumbai are included.
Powerful Ultra Runners, Ahilyanagar Runners Club, Baner Balewadi Runners, Sindhu Runners, United Enduros, Running Punters, PCMC Runners Wakad and Pimple Saudagar, Nanded City Runners, Bavdhan Bridge, PCMC Runners Chinchwad, PCMC Runners Nigdi, SPJ Sports Club and Academy, Feet Cover 360, Vishva Runners, Pune University Runners, Kothrud Deccan Runners, ABC Runners and 17 amateur runner organizations in Pune have taken responsibility for managing the hydration points at every kilometer. Their runners will also participate and contribute to the success of the race. For the past four years, the entire route is monitored by 50 cycle pilots from Cycloholics Pune under the leadership of Ad. Samrat Raote until the race ends. This year too, their team will assist. Ten motorcycle pilots from the Pune District Amateur Athletics Association will lead runners according to rules.
Additionally, Pune Police and Traffic Police will maintain tight security along the route and Pune Municipal Corporation has arranged adequate lighting throughout.
Winners of the 39th Pune International Marathon will receive trophies made from bamboo sponsored by Bamboo Society of India. These represent sustainability and environmental responsibility, which is this year’s theme.
After the race, all finishers will receive a finisher medal, tea, water and refreshments at Sanas Ground arranged by the organizing committee.
The prize distribution ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 8 am at Sanas Ground after all the races are completed. The organizers have appealed to Pune’s sports lovers to cheer and welcome all runners along the route.
