Guwahati is set to step onto the global sporting stage with the launch of the inaugural Guwahati International Marathon, scheduled for February 7, 2027, with around 12,000 participants from India and abroad expected to take part.
The marathon was formally announced at a press conference in Guwahati on Thursday by Assam Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in the presence of former India cricket captain and global cricket icon Sunil Manohar Gavaskar. The event is being promoted by PMG Sports LLP.
The organisers said the marathon is aimed at positioning Guwahati and Assam as an emerging destination for international sporting events while promoting fitness, sports tourism and a strong sporting culture in the region.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) will be associated with the event as the State Sponsor, while TOPCEM Cement, a brand owned by Meghalaya Cements Ltd., has joined as Associate Sponsor.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Minister Sarma said hosting the inaugural marathon was a matter of “immense pride” for Assam and described it as a landmark initiative reflecting the State’s growing aspirations on the national and global sporting stage.
He said the event was “more than a marathon” and would demonstrate Guwahati’s readiness to emerge as a leading destination for sport, fitness and sports tourism. The marathon, he added, would bring together runners and communities from across India and the world while showcasing Assam’s culture, natural beauty and hospitality.
Sarma said the event could become an annual sporting tradition capable of inspiring fitness, encouraging sporting talent and creating new opportunities for the State.
In a symbolic moment at the launch, Gavaskar presented Bib No. 1 to Chief Minister Sarma, marking his endorsement of the event and its broader vision of turning running into a movement that brings together people across age groups and communities.
Gavaskar said running had a unique ability to bring people together across communities, cultures and walks of life. Recalling his visits to Assam for cricket, he praised the State’s natural beauty and the vision of positioning Assam as the “Gateway to the Northeast”.
He expressed confidence that Guwahati could join the world’s leading marathon cities and said the vision was to develop the Guwahati International Marathon into an iconic global event attracting leading runners from around the world.
₹1.25 crore prize purse
The marathon will offer a total prize purse of ₹1.25 crore, placing it among the major prize-money road races in the country and expected to attract elite athletes, professional runners, running clubs and fitness enthusiasts.
The inaugural edition will feature five race categories — Full Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), 10 km Run, 5 km Run and 1.5 km Run.
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The Full Marathon, the flagship event, will feature 30 leading male and female distance runners from around the world, besides India’s top long-distance athletes. It will carry the maximum prize money for elite runners as well as age-group competitors.
The Half Marathon will cater to experienced runners and Indian elite athletes, while the 10 km Run will provide a competitive option for fitness enthusiasts and runners seeking a shorter distance.
The 5 km Run is designed as a celebratory event for families, corporate groups and youth, while the 1.5 km Run will focus on inclusive community participation and encourage people of different age groups and backgrounds to run for a cause.
PV Sindhu brand ambassador
Indian badminton champion, PV Sindhu will serve as the Brand Ambassador of the Guwahati International Marathon. Her association is expected to further strengthen the event’s message of fitness, sporting excellence and youth engagement.
Registration for the inaugural edition will open on September 11, 2026 through the official event website. Participants will be able to access details on eligibility, registration fees, race categories, bib collection, race-day guidelines and other requirements.
The races will start and finish at the historic Judges Field, with the route taking participants through several prominent locations, including Gauhati University, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu and IIT Guwahati before returning to Judges Field.
The course has been measured by Australian Kim Vivian, a Grade A Certified Road Race Course Measurer of World Athletics.
The race will be directed by experienced UK-based race director Richard Hunter, while Ian Ladbrooke will serve as International Elite Athlete Coordinator. Former Asian Marathon Champion Sunita Godara will be the India Elite Athlete Coordinator.
The organisers said the marathon is conceived as an annual event that would progressively grow in participation, sporting excellence, tourism appeal and international recognition.
With its inaugural edition, Guwahati aims to join the growing list of cities where marathon events have evolved beyond competitive running into platforms for sports tourism, fitness, community participation, cause-based initiatives and city branding.
