Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon Surpasses 2 Crore 70 Lakh Meals Through RunForZeroHunger Campaign in 5 Years

Rakesh Thapliyal 

New Delhi, October 18, 2026:The streets of the national capital came alive with energy, determination, and an inspiring spirit of solidarity as the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026 brought together more than 40,000 runners, turning their collective passion into meaningful action through #RunForZeroHunger.

With every kilometre clocked contributing one meal for a child or an animal in need through the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s (AAF) Nand Ghar and TACO initiatives, the movement is driving tangible impact in the fight against hunger. In the 2026 edition, participants contributed 50 lakh meals, taking the cumulative impact of #RunForZeroHunger to over 2 crore 70 lakh meals across five editions, marking five years of Vedanta’s association with the Delhi Half Marathon.

The movement was further amplified by celebrated sporting icons, including Mary Kom, Pramod Bhagat, and Mahesh Bhupathi, who joined in celebrating the spirit of fitness, solidarity, and social impact.

Social Impact: Nand Ghar & TACO

For the Anil Agarwal Foundation, #RunForZeroHunger represents its larger commitment to transforming lives and creating lasting social impact. At the forefront of this effort is Nand Ghar, AAF’s flagship initiative, which operates a network of over 16,000 modernised anganwadis across 18 states. Through an integrated approach to nutrition, healthcare, early childhood education, and women’s empowerment, Nand Ghar is working towards building healthier children, stronger women, and more resilient communities.

The Foundation’s commitment to compassion extends to animals through The Animal Care Organisation (TACO), its animal welfare initiative. By extending #RunForZeroHunger to animals in need, AAF reinforces its belief that every life deserves care and dignity, bringing together the well-being of people and animals through its One Health approach.

Flag-Off by Key Dignitaries

The races were flagged off by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah, along with senior Vedanta leadership including Mr. Arun Misra (CEO, Vedanta Group), Mr. Rahul Sharma (President – Strategy, Vedanta Group), Mr. Rajinder Ahuja (CEO, Vedanta Power Ltd.), and Mr. Jim Johnny Gast (Interim CEO, Vedanta Oil & Gas Ltd.). The event was also graced by Vice Admiral Atul Anand.

The dignitaries flagged off various race categories, including the Half Marathon and Police Cup, Half Marathon Elite, Champions with Disability and Senior Citizens Run, Open 10K, and Great Delhi Run, setting the stage for a spirited showcase of endurance, inclusivity, and community participation.

Leadership Quote

Commenting on the occasion, *Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd.*, said:

“With 40,000 runners taking to the streets, this year’s Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon celebrated sporting excellence, personal determination and the extraordinary power of collective action. From elite athletes pushing the limits of performance to first-time runners discovering their strength, every participant showed how sport can inspire us to go further—for ourselves and for others. Together with everyone who contributed their kilometres to Run For Zero Hunger, we achieved this year’s target of 5 million meals. At the Anil Agarwal Foundation, we believe sport has the power to build champions and transform lives. Every personal best and every finish line became part of a bigger victory—a step towards a better-nourished India.”

Pan-India Employee Mobilisation

Beyond the race route, more than 22,000 Vedanta employees, CXOs, and business partners joined the #RunForZeroHunger movement from their respective locations across India through pre-race activities, including walkathons and mini-marathons. The Group’s businesses also competed through the StepSetGo app, clocking kilometres to contribute meals to the initiative. By bringing colleagues together around a meaningful cause, the initiative combined personal wellness with collective social impact.

Grassroots Sports & Community Building

Beyond VDHM, Vedanta through Anil Agarwal Foundation is strengthening its commitment to promoting grassroots and participative sports through Vedanta Sports. Programmes include:

• Residential football academies in Rajasthan and Goa

• Archery programmes in Jharkhand and Odisha

• Support for hockey through the Kalinga Lancers

• Emerging sports including padel

• Running platforms such as the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon (Jaipur), Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon (Udaipur), and partner marathons in Bengaluru and Mumbai

Finisher Medals from Historic Zawar Mines

Adding a distinctive touch to this year’s race, the finisher’s medal awarded to runners at VDHM was crafted from high-grade zinc sourced from Vedanta Limited subsidiary Hindustan Zinc’s Zawar Mines in Udaipur, Rajasthan—one of the world’s oldest operating zinc mining regions. Hindustan Zinc Limited is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer.

As the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon concludes another successful edition, the impact of every kilometre continues far beyond the finish line, standing as a testament to what collective action can achieve in moving India closer to a healthier, better-nourished, and more compassionate future.