Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon commemorates 20-year milestone with gala evening

Procam International hosted a celebration, Breaking Barriers – A 20-year Odyssey, marking the landmark 20th anniversary of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM). The unforgettable evening was a vibrant fusion of sport, fashion, culture, and legacy.

With over 555,535 finishers, the movementhas sparked a running revolution, empowering women, with participation rising from 85 to over 9,000 today. The event celebrates diversity and inclusion, uniting 74 nationalities and offering dedicated categories for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. As one of India’s largest sporting platforms for giving, the race has raised ₹84.51 crores for philanthropy.

Moreover, the race has set a benchmark for sustainability in mass participative sport and is Zero Waste to Landfill. In 2024 alone, it delivered ₹369 crores in socio-economic and health impact — cementing its legacy as a powerful force for progress.

The gala evening on October 10th brought together leaders from across sport, business, fashion, and the arts to honour VDHM’s two-decade journey of breaking barriers.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited, “The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has never been just about the finish line. It’s a celebration of community, unity, and purpose; of people coming together to build a stronger, healthier India. As we mark this milestone edition, let’s Run for Zero Hunger and make every kilometre count.”

Shreepad Shende, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC FIRST Bank, said, At IDFC FIRST Bank, true progress begins when we push beyond our boundaries and challenge our limits. Breaking Barriers celebrates the spirit of resilience and purpose that drives runners and our customers alike. Just like every runner who breaks through with courage and consistency, we too are driven by the same belief to do what’s right for our customers, not just what’s easy

Icons Who Have Broken Barriers

In a stirring tribute, personalities from Delhi who have broken barriers in their fields walked the ramp, embodying the diversity and strength of the city. The line-up featured:

• Gul Panag, Model, actress and a runner at heart
• Avani Lekhara, Para shooter &India’s only woman with two Paralympic golds (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024)
• D. Singh, Founder & Managing Director, Olive Group of Restaurants
• Atul Wassan, Former Indian Cricketer, Member of India’s 1990–91 Asia Cup-winning squad
• Gaurav Gill, Arjuna Awardee and Triple Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner
• Shama Mohammed, Politician and an advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and education
• Kaamya Karthikeyan, the youngest Indian to summit Mt. Everest and the first female to conquer the Seven Summits challenge by age 16
• Shagun Chowdhury,the first Indian woman to qualify for the trap shooting event at the Olympics (London 2012).
• Namrata Joshipura, Fashion Designer &Marathoner
• Charu Pragya, National TV Panelist for BJP
• Shreepad Shende, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC First Bank
• Anurag Batra, Owner, BW Businessworld & E4M Media Group
• Sivakumar Sundaram, CEO & Executive Director, Times of India Group

Commenting on this milestone year, Anil Singh, Managing Director of Procam International, shared, “The 20th year of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is deeply emotional for us. What began as a dream to host a world-class sporting event in India has grown into a movement that’s broken barriers in sport, community, and giving back. Tonight is a celebration of that journey. We are truly humbled by the unwavering support of our partners, Vedanta, IDFC FIRST Bank, PUMA, Le Meridien, and Red Bull, for bringing this evening to life. This success isn’t ours alone. It belongs to every sponsor, partner, authority, and runner who’s been part of the VDHM family. This is our shared legacy.".

Meena Bhatia, Vice-President & General Manager, Le Méridien, said, "As a founding partner of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, we have always pushed the envelope, broken barriers in hospitality, and delivered a world-class experience. 'Breaking Barriers - A 20 yearOdyssey' hosted by Procam and Le Meridien (New Delhi) is an evening celebrating elegance, attitude, bonhomie and sumptuous food fused together in perfect harmony."