A host of top-class distance runners from the African continent, including pedigreed nations Ethiopia and Kenya, have descended here to show their worth and fight for the cash prizes in the USD 405,000 16th Tata Mumbai Marathon to be run on Sunday. However, that would mean Mumbaikars have to face some inconvenience as BEST services would be suspended in some routes for the duration of the marathon.
According to reports, on nearly 10 routes services will be not available till 1 PM. Also some of the bus chowkies including those in Mantralaya, Worli and Grant Road will be closed till the marathon is going on. In some routes including that going from CST to Colaba- Navy Nagar buses will be diverted during the marathon.
Ethiopian runners took both the men's and women's titles 12 months ago and Abera Kuma and Amane Gobena, from that nation, are the pre-race favourites to take the top individual prize of USD 45,000.
Kuma comes to Mumbai as the fastest man in the field with his 2:05:50 personal best set in the Rotterdam Marathon last April.
Gobena is not only the defending women's champion but would also be the fastest woman on the start line opposite the iconicChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.The 36-year-old mother of two ran her personal best of 2:21:51 when finishing second in the 2016 Tokyo Marathon but continues to be a top-class runner.In addition to her 2018 win here, she also finished third in the Prague Marathon last year.
With PTI inputs
