Rita satish patkar

WMM Wanda World Age Group: The Ladakh Marathon capped its record-breaking 12th edition with thrilling finishes in the Full Marathon, the Half Marathon, and the 11.2 km Run on Sunday. In the Full Marathon, spanning 42 kilometres, Jammu & Kashmir’s Hans Raj crossed the line first in 2:47:41, while Ladakh’s own Stanzin Chondol stormed to victory in the women’s field with a time of 3:13:00 - a run that also placed her sixth overall among men and women.

The 42 km race, which began and ended at Leh’s NDS Stadium, drew a strong field as part of an edition that welcomed 6,600 runners from across India’s states and Union Territories, along with participants from more than 30 countries. As World Marathon Majors qualifier, the Ladakh Marathon also offered athletes the chance to book their spot at the 2026 WMM Wanda World Age Group Championship, provided they met qualifying standards in their respective categories.

Rita Satish Patkar delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend, becoming the rare runner to claim victories in both the Khardung La Challenge and the full marathon within just two days; the Bengalurean finished top in the veteran female category of both races. In the Half Marathon on Sunday, Tsetan Namgail took top honours in the men’s race with a time of 1:13:10, while Stanzin Dolkar led the women’s field, finishing in 1:30:14.