The 5th Sohra International Half Marathon 2026 was successfully held today, bringing together regional, national, and international athletes to Meghalaya.
The event was organised by the Meghalaya State Olympics Association (MSOA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Athletics Association and an official recognised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
The 2026 edition saw the registration of 11,672 runners across all categories. Participation included international athletes and runners from other states as well.
In his keynote address,Wailadmiki Shylla, Minister, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya highlighted the event’s remarkable evolution from a modest starting field of 750 runners to nearly 12,000 participants.
Welcoming athletes representing almost 24 states across the country, Shylla emphasized the marathon’s widespread socio-economic impact, which directly benefits local homestay operators, transport providers, and farmers, while establishing Sohra as a top-tier sporting destination beyond its traditional fame for rain and waterfalls.
Sukant Suki Singh, the first Indian to Complete three 200-Mile Ultramarathons, praised Meghalaya’s exceptional sports infrastructure and natural beauty, identifying the state as the future sporting capital of India.
He specifically commended Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma
for completely transforming the region’s sports landscape and actively nurturing athletic talent from a young age.
The Sohra Half Marathon witnessed strong performances across all its competitive categories, with Satish Kumar Verma emerging winner in the Elite Men’s 21 km category with a timing of 1:03:04, and Tejaswini Narendra Lambkane claiming the Elite Women’s title in 1:15:20.
