Manipurs Aruna Devi wins Mumbai marathon,organisers miss her

L Aruna Devi finished the Mumbai marathon in 3 hrs 9 minutes 59 seconds faster than all other Indian challengers,but was too washed out by the effort to realise that she wasnt among the three women...

L Aruna Devi finished the Mumbai marathon in 3 hrs 9 minutes 59 seconds faster than all other Indian challengers,but was too washed out by the effort to realise that she wasnt among the three women who figured on the podium and picked the medals.

Apparently,volunteers in charge of ushering the winners completely missed that an Indian running with thousands of others from Africa,Europe and Asia had run past the tape-line,and instead mobbed Indresh Dhiraj as the Indian winner a good five minutes after Aruna Devi shouldve been swooped upon for clinching the honours.

Officials dont deny that this blatant oversight couldve been a result of volunteers mostly college students from Mumbai failing to recognise the 31-year-old Manipuri as an Indian,and mistaking her for a foreign runner owing to her North-east features.

Bruno Goveas from Procam International,the events promoters,said,Its likely that the volunteers confused her for a foreigner,so we missed her. There was a goof-up.

The official result-list which records the timings from the electronic-chip,and has details like bib number,name and nationality averted a bigger blunder,when organisers admitted to the mistake and went looking for the real winner.

Aruna Devi,an Eastern Railway employee posted in Kolkata,said: I knew I had won,but I had no energy left after finishing the race. Initially nobody came forward to offer water. Then one Didi a volunteer took me to resting room for athletes,and gave me a massage. When I felt all right I asked around,but I was told the medal-ceremony was over.

Besides not climbing the podium,Aruna Devi running only her second full-marathon,and the first in Mumbai also missed receiving the 2,500 prize-cheque in full view of the thousands of cheering spectators.

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Officials,though terming the fiasco unfortunate,said they hadnt figured out how it happened. Adille Sumariwala,leading the technicals officials team,said,We always had the names right on our result sheets. Im trying to find out how the mistake happened and Ill do a post mortem on the volunteers actions. But there are so many agencies operating at the finishing line. Volunteers dont know all athletes by name and face,hence the confusion. She has got the cheque and medal now. Why the officials didnt notice that three different runners were escorted to the podium,remains unanswered. more Reports,page 22

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More