Over 7,000 Participate in 15th Hexaware Dream Runners Half Marathon 2026 in Chennai
Chennai: More than 7,000 runners from across the country participated in the 15th edition of the Hexaware Dream Runners Half Marathon 2026, held in Chennai on Sunday.
The 21.1-km Half Marathon began at 4:30 a.m. from Napiers Bridge and was flagged off by P. Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, T. Nagar District, Greater Chennai City Police (GCCP). More than 2,500 runners took part in the Half Marathon category.
The 10-km race commenced at 5:15 a.m., also from Napiers Bridge, and was flagged off by K. Bhavaneeswari, Inspector General of Police, Singapenn Special Force. The event saw participation from more than 4,500 runners in the 10-km category.
Participants in both races followed a route that started at Napiers Bridge, passed through Marina Beach, Santhome High Road, Adyar, and Besant Avenue, before finishing at Island Ground.
Ahead of the marathon, a Race Expo was held on July 18 at R.K. Convention Centre, Neelankarai, where registered participants collected their race bibs and goodie bags. During the event, Olympian and former Indian Hockey Team captain and coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran was felicitated for his contribution to Indian hockey and sports in Tamil Nadu.
The marathon was organised by Dream Runners, a Chennai-based running community with 13 chapters across the city. According to the organisers, the event also promoted environmental initiatives, including plogging and zero food wastage practices.
Winners
21.1 km – Open Category
Women
- Winner: Nitu Kumari
- First Runner-up: Doli Giri
- Second Runner-up: Divya S
Men
- Winner: Rohit Binnar
- First Runner-up: Rohit Rama
- Second Runner-up: Udit Pal
10 km – Open Category
Women
- Winner: Tamanna
- First Runner-up: Anjali Panfit
- Second Runner-up: Deepa Ramakrishnan
Men
- Winner: Amit Patil
- First Runner-up: Love Chaudhary
- Second Runner-up: Rushi Wavre
The organisers said the event also supported three social initiatives: providing prosthetic limbs to amputees through Freedom Trust, supplying pressure garments to women survivors of burns and acid attacks through PCVC, and supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities through Vijay Human Services.
The 15th edition concluded with participants from across the country taking part in one of Chennai’s major annual running events focused on fitness, endurance and community participation.
