Hyderabad, Aug 28: From the rugged trails and remote villages of Bastar to the streets of Hyderabad, 184 young tribal runners from Chhattisgarh are set to participate in the 15th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026 this weekend. For many of them, this will be their first opportunity to compete in a major city marathon, opening a new window to fitness, sporting exposure and potentially, a career in athletics.
NMDC, the Title Sponsor of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026, organised the NMDC Freedom Run 2026 across its operational locations in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh in association with the Hyderabad Runners Society (HRS). The 5K runs brought together NMDC employees, their families and members of surrounding communities, with more than 2,000 runners participating.
The Freedom Run was conducted at three NMDC locations: Donnimalai, Karnataka – 700 runners; Bacheli, Chhattisgarh – 900 runners; and Kirandul, Chhattisgarh – 450 runners.
As an extension of the initiative, 184 runners from different villages and remote areas of Chhattisgarh have been selected to participate in the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026. The runners come from areas including Bailadila, Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar and Jagdalpur.
For many of these young runners, running has been part of everyday life on village roads and rugged, challenging terrain. Several of them have traditionally run barefoot, and their participation in a professionally organised city marathon represents a significant step beyond their familiar surroundings.
To help them prepare for the Hyderabad Marathon, NMDC has supported the contingent with running shoes, kits, training, accommodation and transportation. Training for different batches began on August 17. The contingent includes six women runners, with most participants competing in the 10-km category. A few experienced runners will also participate in the 21.1-km Half Marathon and 42.2-km Full Marathon.
Several of these young runners have already demonstrated considerable potential and, with sustained coaching, training and exposure, could explore opportunities to pursue athletics professionally.
With around 32,000 participants expected at the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, the event will provide these young tribal runners from the remote regions of Chhattisgarh a significant platform to compete alongside runners from across the country, gain valuable exposure and experience the scale and excitement of a major city marathon.
The initiative reflects NMDC’s commitment to fostering a culture of fitness, healthy living and community engagement among its employees and the communities around its mining operations. It also demonstrates the ability of sport and running to transcend geographical and social boundaries, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds through a shared pursuit of health, fitness and sporting excellence.
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026, now in its 15th edition, will be held on August 29 and 30, 2026, bringing together thousands of runners in Hyderabad across various race categories.
The journey of these 184 runners—from the mining villages and rugged terrain of Bastar to the marathon streets of Hyderabad—adds a powerful dimension to this year’s event, demonstrating how sport can create opportunities, build confidence and uncover talent from the most unexpected places.