Manipal Hospitals Sreebhumi Gold Marathon 2026, the fourth edition of one of the biggest road shows in Kolkata, was unveiled with renewed grandeur. The fourth edition witnessed a significant amount of participation. The marathon was organised by the Sreebhumi Sporting Club under the aegis of Sri Sujit Bose, MLA, Bidhannagar, and President of the club, and attracted over 10,000 participants. The event featured the 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km run, and a 3 km fun run, with the latter drawing the highest turnout.

Around 1,500 runners competed in the Half Marathon, 2,500 in the 10 km race, and nearly 6,000 took part in the 3 km fun run, reflecting the growing interest in running across all levels.

Prize money was a key highlight, with equal rewards for men and women. Winners of the Half Marathon received ₹1 lakh each, followed by ₹75,000 and ₹50,000 for second and third places. In the 10 km category, the top three finishers were awarded ₹50,000, ₹30,000, and ₹20,000, respectively.

While talking about the event,  Shri Sujit Bose expressed the importance of such runs for a healthier lifestyle. He stated, “I’m an avid sports lover. I run a football team, the Sreebhumi Sports Club, for both men and women. Over the years, I’ve visited multiple top marathons in the country, especially the Tata Mumbai Marathon.”

“Many of my close ones in this area have asked me to start a marathon along with my other sporting ventures, and that was the motivation to start this marathon four years ago,” he added. “Every year we have seen increased participation, and this year it has crossed 10,000. It will only grow year on year.”

The marathon celebrated runners from a wide range of age groups, with awards presented in the 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, and 50-plus categories, ensuring representation across generations. The occasion gained further prominence with the presence of several distinguished figures from Indian sport.

The guest list featured former international footballers Alvito D’Cunha, Jose Ramires Barreto, and Denson Devdas, noted archers Rahul Banerjee and Dola Banerjee, ex-Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar, and chess Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, among others. Backed by strong organisation, expanding participation, and a clear emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity, the Manipal Hospitals Sreebhumi Gold Marathon continues to emerge as one of the city’s most prominent sporting events.

With the Chess Candidates scheduled for March, Barua noted that R Praggnanandhaa will be the only Indian participant at the global tournament. He said, “It’s unfortunate that it’s only him at the Candidates, but I hope he wins it and we have two Indians playing in the next World Championship.

“We’ve generally seen the Russians dominating, but now India is also at the helm of global chess,” he added. “Hopefully, we’ll see that continue.”