Photographer (LR): Shakuntala Devi, Neha
New Delhi: The Thames Internet Half Marathon has attracted strong participation from female athletes, with the under-29 10km category emphasizing speed, determination and emerging talent.Shakuntala Devi, 22, took first place with a chip time of 42 minutes and 31 seconds. She has been in love with running for the past five years, and she credits her brother with introducing her to the sport and shaping her early journey. Shakuntla competed for the national team and after earning a spot in her first marathon, she was encouraged to pursue distance running. Since then, she has shown continued improvement, steadily improving her performance.Second place was won by 18-year-old Neha, whose chip time was 44 minutes and 22 seconds. Neha started running two years ago and has been involved in sports since childhood, initially playing cricket and handball before switching to marathons. Talking about her approach, she shared a dynamic perspective, saying that instead of setting fixed goals, she prefers to focus on the present and adapt to opportunities as they arise. She also recounted her unforgettable experience at the Times Internet Half Marathon.Third place went to 26-year-old Sweta Sah, whose chip time was 44 minutes and 22 seconds, adding to the competitive edge in the category. For the past three years, she has balanced her career as a physical therapist with ongoing training while running. For Sacher, running is an exercise in discipline and progression, and she is now gearing up for longer distances, with an emphasis on marathon running.The Women’s Under-29s category embodies a blend of emerging talent and evolving ambition, with runners at different stages of their journey coming together on a common platform.As the race unfolds, we discover that beyond time and place, this event celebrates intention and growth, with each runner carrying a story and each finish line marking the beginning of something more.
