A 47-year-old woman from Ambajogai in Maharashtra’s Beed district won a local marathon after completing the race barefoot while wearing a sari, with the prize money set to support her daughter’s education. Ramabai Ranveer participated in the ‘Amrit Daud’ organised as part of the Amrit Mahotsav celebrations of the Kholeshwar Educational Complex of Bharatiya Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha. She finished ahead of several younger participants and received a cash prize of Rs 3,000.

The marathon was held in Ambajogai and began at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk before concluding at Bhagyanagar Chowk. A large number of young men and women took part in the race. Ramabai arrived at the venue wearing a sari and slippers and joined the event as a regular participant, without initially attracting particular attention among the competitors.

Her race took an unexpected turn when her slippers began slipping while she was running. Rather than stopping or withdrawing, Ramabai removed them, carried them in her hands and continued the race barefoot. She had to navigate the road surface while also managing her sari, but remained focused on completing the course and maintaining her pace.

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Running barefoot, Ramabai gradually overtook several younger competitors who were participating in sports shoes and track suits. Her determination helped her maintain momentum until she reached the finish line. She eventually crossed it first, securing victory in the marathon and drawing applause from spectators and organisers who witnessed her performance.

The victory carried significance beyond the race itself because of how Ramabai intends to use the prize money. She plans to put the Rs 3,000 cash award towards her daughter’s education. The decision has given her achievement an added personal meaning, linking her participation in the event to her efforts to support her family and her child’s studies.

Ramabai’s performance became one of the notable moments of the local sporting event, with her determination receiving appreciation from those present. Her participation also demonstrated that competitive sporting events can bring together people from different age groups and backgrounds. For Ramabai, however, the marathon victory was ultimately tied to a practical goal — using her prize money to help fund her daughter’s education.

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