The Tata Mumbai Marathon is all about athletes, who raise the bar and overcome all odds. On Sunday, two such competitors, Gujarat’s Nirma Thakor, 26, and West Bengal’s Shyamali Singh, 31, excelled despite challenges ranging from the shifting of her training base to a severe health condition to achieve success in the Indian elite women’s category of the full marathon. 

Thakor, who shifted base from Gujarat to Nashik three years ago to train under coach Vijender Singh, clinched the gold, clocking 2:47:11 among elite Indian women, while Shyamali, who had tumours in her breast and brain surgically removed, secured third place (3:04:35). Pune’s Reshma Kevate took silver, clocking 3:03:34.