Sunita Subba rewrites women’s national record for 24-hour run IAU 24-Hour World Championship in Albi
Sudeep Pakrashi: India’s ultra-runner Sunita Subba smashed the current national record at the 2025 IAU 24 Hour World Championships held in Albi, France, on 18th and 19th October. Sunita covered a distance of 217.327 kilometers during the stipulated 24 hours, surpassing the national record by a huge margin. The existing national record was held by Anju Saini, who had covered 204.314 km during the IAU 24 Hour Asia and Oceania Championships held in Bengaluru in 2022. Sunita Subba, starting her running career in Darjeeling in 2016 in a half-marathon, did not have any coach or systematic guidance. Out of passion, a sheer determination, and an indomitable mental strength, Sunita overcame with all her challenges. After the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Sunita signed up for a 10-day virtual run challenge. She revealed, “I could do it only for eight days, covering a distance of about 330-350 km.” Then she showed her brilliance, winning the 122-kilometer Hell Ultra in 2022, a race from Leh to Nubra Valley that crosses the 17,582-foot Khardung La Pass. Since then Sunita has been called the ‘wonder girl’ of Darjeeling. In July 2024, Sunita won the women’s race in the 24-hour stadium run held in Bengaluru, covering a distance of 188 km, helping her to qualify for the world championships. After she was chosen to represent the country at the IAU 24-Hour World Championships in Albi, France, Sunita set about doing her training in Darjeeling, where she resides. “I used to train alone, sometimes running for six hours, sometimes eight hours. I would keep my water and other supplements near the gate of Bhanu Bhawan on Mall Road,” she said. An employee of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Sunita is often forced to juggle her finances in order to participate in running events. She was worried about arranging finances for the Albi, but after she was enlisted as an Enerjiva athlete, many of those tensions were taken off her plate. Enerjiva, a sports nutrition brand, sponsored many of the athletes for the Albi championships. Also, for the first time in India’s ultra-running history, two women, along with Sunita, crossed the 200-kilometre mark, surpassing the previous national record of 204 km.
Rapidly-growing Ultra-running waits for a ‘berth’ in Olympics; Indian team hope to win gold in the World Championship
Sudeep Pakrashi: Traditional Marathon race covering 42.195 kilometers is a popular sport. In contrast, ‘ultra-running’ is a rapidly growing discipline featuring races with longer distances: 50 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 24-hour runs. Events take place on different terrains, including trails, mountains, 400m tracks, or roads, making each format unique. The game has a governing body named the International Association of Ultra-runners (IAU), which is affiliated with the International Athletics Federation (IAF). In India, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promotes the game. There are two major international events in this sport so far: the Asia-Oceania Continental Championship and the World Championship. Ahead of the forthcoming World Championship in 24-hour running to be held in Albi, France, on 18th and 19th October, the 12-member Indian team (six male and six female) have been undergoing an intense preparation under the tutelage of the country’s most experienced coach, Santhosh Padmanabhan, in Bangalore for around four to five months. While speaking over phone from Bangalore Padmanavan said, “We have worked hard this time. My aim is for the men’s team to break the world record of 319 kilometers in 24 hours, while for the women’s team, it is to break national record of 204 kilometers by Anju Saini in 24 hours. Santhosh added, “I am optimistic that our men’s team will be able to able to win a gold medal and I believe the women’s team will be finishing within the top five.” The best performance of India’s men’s team in a 24-hour world championship was 9th place in 2023 at Chinese Taipei. The women’s team were placed 15th in the same event in 2023. India’s men’s team also earned an inspiring 7th spot in the World Championship, but in the 100-kilometer-running last year in Bangalore. Padmanabhan sounded relying on Amar Devanda who had an individual gold medal in the 24-hour running in Asia-Oceania Continental championship in Canberra last year, covering 272.4 kilometers in 24 hours. Santhosh stated, “He had an incredible performance in the championship and as he is in form in the training Amar can also gift us a medal individually in the world championship also with another remarkable performance.” The coach also mentioned Ullas Hoshalli Narayana’s name, who earned a bronze in the 100-kilometer World Championship in Bangalore last year. The AFI-certified and USATF level-2 coach with an experience of 16 years has also an ammunition in his six-member female team. She is Sunita Subba, the ‘wonder girl’ from Darjeeling. Sunita has long been a pioneer in India’s ultra-endurance circuit. In 2022, she made headlines by winning the Hell Ultra — a brutal 122-kilometre run from Leh to Nubra Valley, crossing the formidable Khardung La Pass at 17,582 feet. Braving sub-zero temperatures, steep altitude, and oxygen-thin air, she became the first woman from the Darjeeling Hills to win this high-altitude ultra marathon — a feat that drew national acclaim and spotlighted the strength of women runners from the Eastern Himalayas. Padmanabhan said, “Leaving her family, especially the children, Sunita has been training for the last 41 days in Bangalore, staying as a PG. She has set an example of dedication, hard-work and sacrifice. “ India now host over 50 ultra-running events annually and has also hosted prestigious international Ultra running events such as the IAU 50Km and IAU 100km World Championships and multiple IAU 100km and IAU 24 hour Asia-Oceania Championships. Still, it has not been an Olympic sport. Santhosh, who is also a selection committee member, is waiting for the day when ultra-running will be an Olympic sport. “So far, I know, initiatives have been taken for ultra-running’s inclusion in the Olympics. It might be that the 100-kilometer ultra-running event can be included in the Olympics.” revealed Santhosh. The Indian team which will participate in the 24-hour world Championship have financial support from NEB sports pvt Ltd. and Enerjiva. Santhosh sounded confident, concluding, “Once the game becomes an Olympic sport, then the popularity will increase rapidly. Thirty-three countries are participating in the 24-hour world championship. It must increase and then we will also gain the attention of more media and obviously financial support.”
India assured of two medals after men’s and mixed teams reach final
Promising compound archer Rishabh Yadav made noteworthy contributions as India reached men’s and mixed team summit clashes and assured itself of two medals on the opening day of the World Archery Championship in Gwangju, Korea, on Saturday. Rishabh, who gathered 709 points to take the eighth spot in the qualification round, joined hands with Amman Saini and Prathamesh Fuge to help the second-ranked Indian men’s team go past Australia 232-232 (shoot-off: 30-28), the USA 234-233 and Turkey 234-232 and set up a title clash with France. The youngster combined with the seasoned V. Jyothi Surekha, the top-ranked Indian compound woman who placed third with 707 points, to enable the fourth-slotted Indian mixed team to defeat Germany 160-152, El Salvador 157-153 and Chinese Taipei 157-155 and fix a final date with the Netherlands. However, defending champion India, comprising Jyothi, Parneet Kaur and Prithika Pradeep, lost to Italy 229-233 in the second round to exit early.
