Maharashtra mother wins marathon barefoot for daughters' education

Ramabai Ranveer, a 47-year-old mother and cook from Ambajogai in Maharashtra's Beed district, won a local marathon on August 29, 2026, by running a 3-kilometer race barefoot in a sari to earn prize money for her daughters' education. The victory, which has been widely shared on social media, highlights the financial struggles of a single parent determined to support her children's academic ambitions. The race, known as the Amrit Daud, was organized by the Bharatiya Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha to mark the 75th anniversary of its Kholeshwar Educational Complex. It took place on a route from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to Bhagyanagar Chowk in Ambajogai. Ranveer, who works as a cook, arrived at the event wearing a simple sari and slippers. According to reports, she began the race with her footwear on, but as her slippers began to slip, she removed them and continued running barefoot, holding them in her hand. Despite competing against younger participants in tracksuits and running shoes, she maintained her pace and crossed the finish line first in approximately 30 minutes. The official first prize was Rs 3,000, though one report indicated she received Rs 5,000.