The 19th edition of recently held TATA Mumbai Marathon took an unexpected turn as it unfolded this year, leaving participants, particularly those in the Marathon Amateurs category, deeply disappointed. The day began early at 5 am, or the Marathon Amateurs, who set off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, on a grueling 42km journey. While they were the first category to hit the pavement, their ultimate reward turned out to be elusive.
Disheartened Finishers
As the day progressed, the disappointment grew. More than 500 Marathon Amateurs who completed the challenging 42km marathon found themselves without medals at the collection counters. A Free Press Journal report mentioned organizational mismanagement and miscalculations to be cited as the culprits behind this disheartening turn of events. Despite the enthusiasm and dedication of nearly 59,000 runners who took part, the event witnessed a significant hiccup in the form of a medal shortage, leaving many athletes empty-handed.
Disappointment Expressed
A group of 40 runners from Pune expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that upon completing their race, they were informed that their hard-earned medals had mysteriously disappeared – either stolen or misplaced. They expressed their disappointment and disbelief, particularly for the seven runners among them who were first-timers and had expected to proudly wear their medals. Some also recounted on how what initially promised to be a well-organized event gradually descended into chaos towards the finish line, noting that not only were medals withheld, but participants also missed out on the breakfast they had already prepaid for. Promises of medal delivery at a later date left participants skeptical about the organizers' reliability.
Mix-Up and Unprecedented Occurrence
Several expressed frustration sharing that while early finishers were fortunate enough to receive their medals, they were told that the medal boxes had gone astray when their turn came. This surprising lapse in management left participants perturbed, as organizers seemingly failed to ensure an adequate supply of medals. To add to the confusion, there was a mix-up where participants who completed the 21km run received 42km medals in error. Organizers assured participants that medals would be dispatched based on their bib numbers. This marked an unprecedented occurrence in the otherwise well-established TATA Mumbai Marathon.
Participation Report
| Event Category | Number of Participants |
|---|---|
| 42km Marathon | 10,711 |
| Half Marathon (21km) | 15,218 |
| Open 10k | 7,130 |
| Dream Run | 20,590 |
| Senior Citizen Run | 1,782 |
| Champions with Disability | 1,114 |
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