Panaji: Teddy Cardozo and Rama Tonpe claimed victory in their respective categories at the I-Run Goa Marathon 2025 held on Sunday.
Cardozo triumphed in the 21-km male under-45 category with a time of 1:20:15, while Tonpe topped the female category under 45 with a time of 1:46:28. In the 21-km race for participants above 45, Yeshwant Parab from Panjim clocked 1:31:08 to take the male title, while Moscow’s Inga Khlystalova finished in 2:04:57 to claim the female crown.
Reflecting on his win, Cardozo said, “After finishing second in last year’s 10-km race, I decided to challenge myself in the 21-km this year. It wasn’t my best, but I’m happy with the result and starting the year on a high note.” Tonpe, meanwhile, expressed her satisfaction with the experience: “It was a fun run. The route was scenic and the event was very well organised.”
The 2025 edition of the I-Run Goa Marathon, organized by the I-Help Foundation, attracted over 1,500 participants from across India and beyond. The race began at 5.30 a.m. from Goa University in Taleigao, with runners traversing picturesque routes through Dona Paula and Miramar.
Participants enjoyed support from dedicated volunteers stationed along the course.
The event’s guest of honor, Pallavi Dempo, spoke about the importance of fitness: “I consider fitness a top priority. With each passing year, we should set goals and do our best to achieve them. Health is wealth, and that’s what matters most.”
In the para-athletes category, Vishant Nagvekar claimed victory, followed by Stany D’Souza in second and Moises Rodrigues in third. Other notable performances included Titouan Guillou (36:49) and Swizel D’Souza (44:07) winning the 10-km male and female under-45 titles. Pavan Kumar (41:06) and Sheriann Dourado (1:09:43) triumphed in the 10-km above-45 categories, while Pradeep Motar and Akshata Dodamani claimed the top spots in the 5-km timed run under 45.
The race’s success was attributed to the meticulous organisation, with water stations offering hydration, glucose, and fruit at each checkpoint, along with on-site physiotherapists and doctors. The event was also marked by a dynamic warm-up session led by Sunil Fitness Wave to get participants prepared for the run.
Praveen Maurya, the founder of the I-Run Goa Marathon, expressed his joy at the overwhelming participation: “It’s amazing to see so many dedicated and enthusiastic individuals crossing the finish line with smiles. It makes all the hard work worth it.”
