In the breathtaking highs of Ladakh, two incredible runners stole the show at the 12th Ladakh Marathon. Five-time Guinness World Record holder Sufiya Sufi and local hero Tsewang Kundan triumphed in the grueling Silk Route Ultra, making this year’s event a historic hit with a whopping 6,600 participants across six races.
For the first time ever, runners from all 28 Indian states and 8 Union Territories joined forces with athletes from 30 countries. This massive turnout has solidified the Ladakh Marathon as a top global running event, drawing adventure seekers to one of the world’s most challenging terrains.
The Silk Route Ultra is no joke—it’s a brutal 122 km race starting in Nubra Valley, scaling the sky-high Khardung La Pass at 17,618 feet, and finishing right in Leh Market. Out of 76 brave souls who tackled it this year, Tsewang Kundan from the Ladakh Scouts clinched the men’s win in an impressive 13 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second. His regiment dominated, grabbing both runner-up spots too.
Sufiya Sufi shone in the women’s category, crossing the finish line in 19 hours, 12 minutes, and 36 seconds— a big step up from her third place last year. “These races push you to your limits in such extreme conditions,” she might say, and it’s easy to see why her victory inspires so many.
The action kicked off even earlier with the Khardung La Challenge, a 72 km ultramarathon that started at 3:00 am from Khardung Village. Over 280 runners tested their endurance here, and Shabir Hussain powered through the men’s race in 6 hours, 58 minutes, and 40 seconds. Namgyal Lhamo, a repeat champ, took the women’s title in just over 8.5 hours.
At the lively prize ceremonies in Leh Market, DGP Ladakh Police Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal cheered on the Silk Route Ultra winners, while Maj. General Parveen Chhabra, VSM, celebrated the Khardung La Challenge stars.
Chewang Motup Goba, founder of Rimo Expeditions and the race director, couldn’t hide his excitement. “Huge congrats to all our winners in the Silk Route Ultra and Khardung La Challenge,” he said. “These ultramarathons demand real mental and physical strength in Ladakh’s tough landscapes. With over 350 runners this year, it’s grown so much. We salute everyone who took on the challenge and can’t wait to see you back next time!”
Veteran runners brought their A-game too. In the Khardung La Challenge, Vijay Kumar Singh from Indore led the men’s veterans in 8 hours, 59 minutes, and 4 seconds, while Rita Satish Patkar from Bengaluru won the women’s in 12 hours, 41 minutes, and 48 seconds. For the Silk Route Ultra veterans, Shivanand Dangwal from Uttarakhand finished first in 18 hours, 32 minutes, and 24 seconds.
This Ladakh Marathon all started after the devastating 2010 flash floods, born as a symbol of the region’s unbreakable spirit. Launched officially in 2012, it quickly grew from a small local race into one of India’s biggest and most unique marathons, pulling in thousands of runners from India and beyond each year.
The excitement isn’t over yet—the 5 km Run for Fun happens on Saturday, September 13, followed by the 11.2 km Run, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon on Sunday. If you’re into extreme running challenges or just love stories of human grit, keep an eye on Ladakh—it’s redefining endurance sports!
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