Asian Games bronze medallists Ram Baboo and Manju Rani won the first-ever national men’s and women’s marathon walk events, respectively, at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition 2026 at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Saturday.
Competing over the new 42.195 km distance for the first time, Ram Baboo clocked three hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds (3:09:17) for the top spot in the men’s marathon walk while Manju Rani clinched the women’s title in 3:33:24.
Ram Baboo and Manju Rani, who won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in the mixed team 35km event with a combined time of 5:51:14, set the first national records for the 42.195km marathon walk distance.
Ram Baboo, who also holds the national record in the men’s 35km race walk (2:29:56), finished ahead of two-time Olympian Sandeep Kumar (3:11:18) and Resham Midhun (3:12:11).
In the women’s field, national 35km record-holder and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Priyanka Goswami came second in 3:37:25 while Payal took third place in 3:39:57.
In the men’s 10km race walk, Nitin Gupta topped the field in 41:44, followed by Rishikesh Pratheepan in 43:11 and Bilin George Anto in 43:53.
In the women’s 10km race walk, Reshma Patel won in 46:19, with Mary Margaret K second in 47:18 and Akshaya K finishing third in 51:49.
The standard race walk distances were updated last year, with the traditional 20km and 35km events replaced by half marathon (21.0975km) and full marathon and 42.195km by World Athletics.
The Asian Games 2026 will also feature the marathon walk instead of the 35km event.
All national records remain subject to ratification by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Results: Men’s marathon walk: 1. Ram Baboo (3:09:17), 2. Sandeep Kumar (3:11:18), 3. Resham Midhun (3:12:11).
Women’s marathon walk: 1. Manju Rani (3:33:24), 2. Priyanka Goswami (3:37:25), 3. Payal (3:39:57).
Men’s 10km: 1. Nitin Gupta (41:44), 2. Rishikesh Pratheepan (43:11), 3. Bilin George Anto (43:53).
Women’s 10km: 1. Reshma Patel (46:19), 2. Mary Margaret K (47:18), 3. Akshaya K (51:49).
