Published: September 12, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Ladakh’s own Nawang Tsering delivered a record-breaking performance at the 13th Ladakh Marathon on Friday, winning the 122 km Silk Route Ultra in 12:12:18, completing the gruelling course–which starts from Kyagar village in Nubra Valley at approximately 10,700 ft, climbs to 17,618 ft at Khardung La, before finishing in Leh–in just over 12 hours.
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Rajasthan’s Suraj Meena finished second in 12:35:00, breaking the record for the fastest non-Ladakhi runner, while seasoned Ladakh Marathon runner Tenzin Dolma won the women’s race in 14:26:29.
Rajasthan’s Suraj Meena finished second in 12:35:00, breaking the record for the fastest non-Ladakhi runner. Pic: Sports Now
A three-time Ladakh Full Marathon winner, Nawang has established himself as one of India’s leading high-altitude endurance runners and has increasingly made his mark on the international trail-running circuit.
He competed at the CCC HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc in 2025 and came into this year’s Silk Route Ultra with an established record in long-distance mountain racing. He was followed on the podium by third-placed Rigzin Gyurmeth in 12:51:21.
Tenzin wins women’s race; Sufiya comes in second
In the women’s category, Tenzin was followed by Sufiya Sufi Runner in 17:42:08 and Aditi Chaudhary in 19:21:18. Sufiya, a five-time Guinness World Record holder who has run from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, added another major endurance challenge to her record-setting career.
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In the 72 km Khardung La Challenge, starting from the Khardung Village in the Nubra Valley, Jigmet Stobdan won the men’s race in a record-breaking 6:00:03, followed by Shabir Hussain in 6:26:24 and Singay Angchok in 6:34:12. Disket Dolma led the women’s field in 7:03:26, ahead of Jigmet Dolma in 8:33:16 and Neha Devi in 8:56:15.
Seasoned Ladakh Marathon runner Tenzin Dolma won the women’s race in 14:26:29. Pic: Instagram
Chewang Motup Goba, founder and race director of the Ladakh Marathon, congratulated the winners and all those who completed the races. “What these runners have done today is a great human feat. The distances are demanding, but at this altitude, the challenge goes well beyond the distance itself. I congratulate all the winners, but also every runner who stood on the start line and made it to the finish. Every finish is an achievement at these heights,” he said.
Pawan, Asha bag veterans’ honours
Among the veteran runners, Pawan Dhaka won the men’s Silk Route Ultra in 16:10:17, with Maik Becker second in 18:15:37 and Shivanand Dangwal third in 18:30:22.
Asha Singh was the sole winner in the women’s veteran category, completing the race in 21:15:45.
In the veteran category of the Khardung La Challenge, Konrad Von Allmen took the men’s title in 7:44:09, followed by Rajinder Singh Bharaj in 10:19:45 and Shivendra Singh Bisht in 10:32:24.
Pooja Varma won the women’s veteran race in 11:19:03, followed by Rita Satich Patkar in 12:26:58 and Richika Goyal in 12:41:52.
The 2026 Ladakh Marathon brought together more than 7,200 registered participants from 35 of India’s 36 states and Union Territories, over 28 countries and all six inhabited continents. Organised by Rimo Expeditions and the High Altitude Sports Foundation, Ladakh, the four-day event features six races, including the 122 km Silk Route Ultra and 72 km Khardung La Challenge.
Sufiya Sufi Runner, a five-time Guinness World Record holder who has run from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, finished second behind Tenzin. Pic: X
The Ladakh Marathon is the world’s highest AIMS-certified marathon and an Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group Qualifier, and has grown since its founding in 2012 into one of India’s most distinctive international distance-running events.
The marathon continues to place equal emphasis on the experience of the race and the responsibility of hosting it in Ladakh’s fragile Trans-Himalayan environment.
Record ₹1 crore prize pool for 13th Ladakh Marathon to be held from Sept 10 to 13, 2026
Single-use plastics have been prohibited at race venues since 2019, while the junior race programme encourages environmental awareness through schoolchildren collecting PET bottles as part of their participation.
Results: Silk Route Ultra
Open male: 1. Nawang Tsering 12:12:18, 2. Suraj Meena 12:35:00, 3. Rigzin Gyurmeth 12:51:21.
Open female: 1. Tenzing Dolma 14:26:29, 2. Sufiya Sufi Runner 17:42:08, 3. Aditi Chaudhary 19:21:18.
Veteran male: 1. Pawan Dhaka 16:10:17, 2. Maik Becker 18:15:37, 3. Shivanand Dangwal 18:30:22.
Veteran female: 1. Asha Singh 21:15:45.
Khardung La Challenge
Open male: 1. Jigmet Stobdan 6:00:03, 2. Shabir Hussain 6:26:24, 3. Singay Angchok; 6:34:12.
Open female: 1. Disket Dolma 7:03:26, 2. Jigmet Dolma 8:33:16, 3. Neha Devi 8:56:15.
Veteran male: 1. Konrad Von Allmen 7:44:09, 2. Rajinder Singh Bharaj 10:19:45, 3. Shivendra Singh Bisht 10:32:24.
Veteran female: 1. Pooja Varma 11:19:03, 2. Rita Satich Patkar 12:26:58, 3. Richika Goyal 12:41:52.
