Zydus Pinkathon returns to Delhi with women-first health narrative

Zydus Pinkathon has announced its return to Delhi for the eighth edition of the women’s run, scheduled for 8 March 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The announcement follows the platform’s 10th edition in Mumbai, which saw participation from over 5,300 women and set a world record for the highest number of visually impaired women running together.

Returning to the capital after seven years, the Delhi edition will feature race categories ranging from 3 km, Lifelong 5 km and 10 km to ultra-distances of 50 km, 75 km, 100 km and a 100 km relay. The event continues under the title partnership of Zydus Lifesciences, aligning fitness with preventive healthcare through the Easiest Exam campaign, which promotes regular self-breast examinations.

From a marketing standpoint, Pinkathon has consistently positioned itself as a purpose-led platform rather than a standalone sporting event. The Delhi edition reinforces this positioning by combining large-scale participation with community-driven formats that emphasise inclusivity, accessibility and sustained engagement.

The event also introduces a set of mascots representing different race categories, each selected to highlight resilience and diversity. Commander Priya Khurana represents the 100K category, followed by Ritu Chandel Handa for the 75K and Arti Limje, a visually impaired runner, for the 50K. Jaswinder Kaur represents the 10K category, Bhavana Saxena, a cancer survivor, represents the Lifelong 5K, and Maria Bagatsing, a babywearing mother, represents the 3K category.

Delhi has historically been a strong market for Pinkathon, with over 50,000 women having participated in earlier editions. The upcoming event aims to re-energise the city’s running community by combining grassroots participation with structured race formats that support both first-time runners and seasoned athletes.

Milind Soman, founder, Pinkathon, said, “Delhi has always been an important part of Pinkathon’s story, and coming back for the eighth edition feels like picking up a conversation that never really stopped.”

Zydus Pinkathon’s broader programming, including sari runs, baby-wearing walks, visually impaired categories and ultra-distance events, has helped differentiate the platform within India’s crowded event landscape. These initiatives have also influenced how women’s participation in endurance sports is perceived and marketed.

Dr. Sharvil Patel, managing director, Zydus Lifesciences, said the partnership aims to extend awareness around women’s health through consistent engagement rather than one-off messaging. As a precursor to the main event, Delhi will host community-led initiatives such as the Saree Run, Grandmother’s 10K, Visually Impaired Training Run and Cancer Shero Walk.

As the Pinkathon season progresses to Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities, the Delhi edition reinforces how long-term brand partnerships and community-first narratives can drive both scale and credibility in purpose-led marketing.