Date: September 5, 2026
Location: Sohra (Cherrapunji), Meghalaya
Total finishers: 11,672
Distances: 21km (elite and Meghalayan categories) and 10km (age group)
Elite men’s winner: Satish Kumar Verma — 1:03:04
Elite women’s winner: Tejaswini Narendra Lambkane — 1:15:20
Most runners dream of racing somewhere beautiful. Not many sign up to race through fog, mist and winding roads carved along the edge of deep gorges in one of the wettest places on earth. That’s exactly what 11,672 runners did at the 5th Sohra International Half Marathon in Meghalaya on Friday — and the numbers tell you this race has quietly become one of Northeast India’s most compelling running events.
Sohra, better known to the world as Cherrapunji, is not your average race venue. The terrain is dramatic, the weather unpredictable and the roads demand respect. Which makes the performances here all the more striking.
Elite Results: Satish Kumar Verma and Tejaswini Lambkane Take the Top Honours
In the open elite men’s 21km, Satish Kumar Verma crossed the line in 1:03:04 to claim the win. On a course like Sohra’s, that’s a serious time. Tejaswini Narendra Lambkane dominated the elite women’s race, finishing in 1:15:20.
The Meghalayan category — reserved for local runners — produced its own standout performances. Wolbetstar Ramsiej won the men’s 21km in 1:03:26, just 22 seconds behind the overall elite winner on home turf. Marqueenless Ramsiej took the women’s Meghalayan title in 1:23:55.
| Category | Winner (Men) | Time | Winner (Women) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite 21km | Satish Kumar Verma | 1:03:04 | Tejaswini Narendra Lambkane | 1:15:20 |
| Meghalayan 21km | Wolbetstar Ramsiej | 1:03:26 | Marqueenless Ramsiej | 1:23:55 |
| 10km (Age 18–39) | Wankyrmen L Mawphlang | — | Daplin Wahlang | — |
| 10km (Age 40–54) | Bharat Bhushan | — | Mena Mary Wahlang | — |
| 10km (Age 55+) | Swonding Mawlong | — | Thlingda Wanniang | — |
Why the Registration Cap Is Actually Smart Race Management
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla flagged something important at the event: registrations are deliberately capped. Not because demand is low — clearly it isn’t, with nearly 12,000 runners showing up — but to protect the quality of the experience.
It’s a policy more Indian races should consider. Unlimited entries sounds inclusive but it often destroys the very experience runners pay to have — clogged aid stations, chaotic starts and overwhelmed volunteers. Sohra is making a different bet, and given the growth it’s seen over five editions, it appears to be working.
Beyond the Race: Sohra’s Bigger Play as a Running Destination
This matters for runners thinking about a destination race. Sohra already draws visitors for its waterfalls and misty landscapes. A race that genuinely loops in the local economy — rather than just parachuting a large event into a town — tends to be better organised, better supported and more worth the travel.
What the Sohra Half Marathon Means for Northeast India Running
Five editions in and nearly 12,000 runners on course — that’s not a regional novelty anymore. The Sohra International Half Marathon is becoming a genuine fixture on the Indian running calendar, with a course character that no flat city race can replicate. The fog, the gorges, the altitude shift — it’s hard and it’s beautiful, and that combination keeps runners coming back.