New Delhi: The 12th edition of the Ladakh Marathon concluded on Sunday with record participation and thrilling finishes across the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and 11.2 km Run.
In the Full Marathon (42 km), Jammu & Kashmir’s Hans Raj clocked 2:47:41 to take the men’s crown, while Ladakh’s Stanzin Chondol dominated the women’s field in 3:13:00—a performance that also earned her sixth place overall.
The race, which started and ended at Leh’s NDS Stadium, saw strong participation as part of an edition that drew 6,600 runners from every Indian state and UT, as well as over 30 countries. As an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifier, the event also offered athletes a shot at the 2026 AbbottWMM Wanda World Age Group Championship.
Among standout performers was Bengalurean Rita Satish Patkar, who achieved the rare feat of winning both the Khardung La Challenge and the Full Marathon within two days, topping the veteran women’s category in both. In the Half Marathon, Tsetan Namgail led the men with 1:13:10, while Stanzin Dolkar claimed the women’s title in 1:30:14.
At the post-race ceremony, Chief Guest Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, distributed medals, trophies, and prize money. She lauded the marathon’s growth, noting its rise from 1,200 participants 12 years ago to more than 6,500 this year. She credited founder Chewang Motup, his team, sponsors, and LAHDC for enabling the event’s success, and extended congratulations to all the runners.
In the 11.2 km Run, Sonam Stanzin edged Furboo Tundup by just 10 seconds to win the men’s title in 42:39, while Skarma Idong Lanzes topped the women’s field in 47:30. Veterans Tsewang Dorjay and Sarah Hanan-Bajwa claimed the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.
The Half Marathon veterans’ crowns went to Arvind Basaiawmoit and Shilpa Phadke, while Shyamapada Das triumphed in the Full Marathon veterans’ category alongside Patkar.
Earlier on Friday, five-time Guinness World Record holder Sufiya Sufi and Ladakh Scouts’ Tsewang Kundan won the Silk Route Ultra, the marquee race of the marathon. Shabir Hussain and Namgyal Lhamo topped the men’s and women’s standings, respectively, in the grueling 72 km Khardung La Challenge.
