Aizawl Half Marathon 2026 Puts Mizoram on Global Map

AIZAWL-  The second edition of the Aizawl International Half Marathon (AIHM) 2026 concluded on February 14 with nearly 3,000 runners, including 16 elite international athletes, participating in what organisers described as a milestone event for Mizoram’s sporting landscape. The marathon was flagged off at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium by Mizoram Governor General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.), signalling the state’s growing ambition to position itself on the global athletics map.

Athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, France and other countries joined runners from across India and the Northeast, transforming Aizawl into an international sporting venue. Organised jointly by the Government of Mizoram and Innovations India under the theme “Connecting India, Developing Mizoram, Empowering Sports,” the event saw participation nearly double from its inaugural edition last year, which had attracted around 1,500 runners.

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Speaking at the event, the Governor highlighted favourable weather conditions and expressed confidence that the marathon could evolve into an iconic global sporting fixture. Sports and Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said the growing scale of participation reflects Mizoram’s expanding sports culture and organisational capacity, noting that such events contribute to both tourism promotion and youth engagement.

Captain Rahul Bali, curator of AIHM, described the second edition as a defining milestone, citing the presence of elite runners from Europe, Africa and the Middle East as evidence of Aizawl’s rising status in the international running circuit.

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In the competitive categories, Kenya’s Kemboi Kevin Kiprono won the 21KM Open Male race with a chip time of 1:06:28, followed closely by Nafsen Ejeta Balcha and Clinton Kibet Mutai. In the 21KM Open Female category, India’s Renu Singh secured first place with a time of 1:21:22, while Tsige Debay Tadese and Marta Hirpato Yota finished second and third respectively.

The marathon route, set against Aizawl’s hilly terrain and urban landscape, offered a challenging course that drew enthusiastic local crowds. Observers noted that beyond the competition itself, the event highlighted improvements in sports infrastructure, event management capabilities and institutional coordination in the state.

Officials said the successful hosting of AIHM 2026 demonstrates Mizoram’s readiness to attract larger sporting events and expand sports tourism in the coming years. With increased participation and international representation, the marathon has strengthened the state’s position as an emerging hub for distance running in Northeast India.