Shillong, Feb 14: The second edition of the Aizawl International Half Marathon (AIHM), 2026 concluded on a high note on Friday, drawing nearly 3,000 runners, including 16 elite international athletes, and firmly establishing Mizoram as one of India’s fastest-rising distance running destinations.
The AIHM was flagged off by Manipur Governor Vijay Kumar Singh from the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
The marathon witnessed participation from athletes representing Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, France and several other countries, alongside elite and amateur runners from across India and the North Eastern Region. The strong international presence, coupled with an overwhelming domestic turnout, transformed Aizawl into a vibrant global sporting arena.
The 21 km Open Male category was led by Kenya’s Kemboi Kevin Kiprono, who secured first place with a chip time of 1:06:28, followed closely by Nafsen Ejeta Balcha (1:06:38) and Clinton Kibet Mutai (1:06:39).
In the 21 km Open Female category, Renu Singh clinched the top position with a time of 1:21:22, with Tsige Debay Tadese (1:21:35) and Marta Hirpato Yota (1:21:36) finishing second and third respectively. The certified timings further underscore the competitive depth and international standard of the Aizawl International Half Marathon 2026.
Organised jointly by the Government of Mizoram and Innovations India under the theme, ‘Connecting India, Developing Mizoram, Empowering Sports,’ the event marked a significant leap from its debut edition last year, which had attracted around 1,500 participants, largely from the Northeast. Within a year, participation surged by almost 100 per cent, a growth that organisers described as a testament to the marathon’s credibility and expanding appeal.
