Gopi T, winner of the Indian elite section, is looking for not only to defend his title but also to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, on Sunday.

“I will aim for the course record at Tata Mumbai Marathon, my preparations have been good in the Sports Authority of India complex in Bengaluru,” he told media persons on Saturday. The temperatures were high there, Mumbai is hotter than last year. So I don’t know what to expect.

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He is running here after a 2:14:58 at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon last year, hoping to find form in Mumbai.

The direct qualification time in the men’s marathon for Paris 2024 is 2:08. Gopi’s personal best of 2:13:39 was at the Seoul Marathon 2022, forcing the Army runner to aim for qualification via the average route.

“Runners who don’t qualify automatically have the option to average the best five race timings. I feel 2:12 will be needed at Mumbai or in two races ahead for making the grade, one in India and one abroad.”

Srinu Bugatha (PB 2:14:59 New Delhi Marathon 2021) and Kalidas Hirve are others running among the Indian men in the fray.

The Indian elite winners stand a chance to win Rs 500,000 each for the champion in the men’s and women’s categories, down to the seventh position.

Jigme Dolma, Aarti Patil, and Nirmaben Thakor are prominent names in the women’s marathon. Leh runner Jigmat trains in high altitude at home and will bank on endurance to perform.

Nima said: “Women don’t believe in themselves. The thought that they can’t do it is stuck in their minds. Once people start believing in themselves anything is achievable.”

Top runners from around the globe and India will l be seen in action in the Marathon .This is the 19th edition of the Mumbai Marathon, which was upgraded to a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race event last year and is the premier event on the Indian marathon calendar. The race has been held annually since 2004 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022.

Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Anchialem Haymanot are back to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s elite categories, respectively. Both won the race last year, setting new course records.

Ethiopian Kinde Atanw, who won the 2019 Valencia Marathon, 2019 world champion Lelisa Desisa and Eritrean Merhawi Kesete will be some of the top contenders.

The women’s line-up includes Anchialem’s compatriots Tadelech Bekele, a 2018 London Marathon bronze medallist, and Sofia Assefa, the London 2012 Olympics steeplechase silver medallist.

The Mumbai Marathon also has other events like the half marathon and Open 10K runs amongst others. The half-marathon field will also be a strong one with Asian Games medallists Kartik and Gulveer Singh in the mix.

The iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will be the starting point for all races of the Marathon . The half-marathon will start from the Mahim Reti Bandar ground.