National, July 10, 2026: Marking its return to Chennai after 7 years, Zydus Pinkathon officially unveiled the city’s much-awaited edition at a press conference hosted by Hyatt Regency Chennai held on Thursday, bringing together the event’s founders, partners and inspiring women who will lead the movement on race day. Scheduled to take place on August 1 & 2 at Island grounds, the Chennai edition will feature race categories ranging from 3 km, Lifelong 5 km and 10 km to ultra-distance events of 50 km, 75 km, 100 km and the 100 km relay, welcoming women across all age groups and fitness levels.
The Chennai edition continues Zydus Pinkathon’s mission of making women’s health and fitness more visible and accessible while creating greater awareness around preventive healthcare. Over the years, this event has inspired close to a million women across India to embrace running as a means of building confidence, community and long-term well-being.
The press conference also introduced this year’s Chennai mascots, whose inspiring journeys reflect the spirit of courage, resilience and determination that defines Zydus Pinkathon. The event will feature Zoha Sanofer, a babywearing mother representing the 3 km category; Nandita Muralidhar, a cancer survivor leading the Lifelong 5 km category; Gaytheri M., a visually impaired runner representing the 10 km category; Geetha Manichandar, a 65-year-old runner leading the 50 km category; Deborah Sushma Lall, a working professional representing the 75 km category; and Latha Ravichander, leading the 100 km category—each representing women who continue to challenge stereotypes and inspire others to prioritise their health.
Speaking at the event, Milind Soman, Founder, Pinkathon, said: “Every city adds a new chapter to the Zydus Pinkathon journey, and returning to Chennai after 7 years is particularly special. We’ve always believed that when women come together through fitness, they inspire change not just in themselves but within their families and communities as well. We look forward to seeing Chennai once again embrace this movement and celebrate the many stories of strength that will unfold on race day.”
The Chennai edition will once again amplify awareness around preventive healthcare through The Easiest Exam campaign, encouraging women to adopt regular self-breast examinations as a simple but vital step towards the early detection of breast cancer.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, said, “With the Easiest Exam campaign, we seek to empower women with the knowledge that a simple 3-minute self examination each month can make a life-saving difference. Zydus Pinkathon aims to reach many more women, raise awareness, and inspire collective action in the fight against breast cancer. We believe that raising awareness on women’s health and breast cancer remains equally vital, as early detection has the power to save countless lives.”
Alongside the main race categories, the Chennai edition will also feature young mothers running with their babies, cancer survivors, visually impaired runners, and many runners in saree, continuing Zydus Pinkathon’s tradition of adapting to each city’s unique community and culture.
Ankita Konwar, Founder, Invincible Women, added, “Every Zydus Pinkathon reminds us that there is no single definition of strength. Whether someone is preparing for her first run or taking on an ultra-distance challenge, every woman is writing her own story. We hope Chennai inspires many more women to begin their fitness journey, knowing that every step forward counts.”
The event is supported by a strong partner ecosystem led by Zydus as the Title Partner, and further strengthened by Lifelong (Fitness Partner), Sirona (Hygiene Partner), and Hyatt Regency Chennai (Hospitality Partner). Healthcare and wellness are reinforced through Fujifilm (Breast Health Partner), MILLD (Flour Partner), 3TENX (Hair Wellness Partner), alongside Bisleri (Hydration Partner), Zivame (Activewear Partner), and Tasty Nibbles (Tasty Meals Partner). The event is supported by Sports Authority of India (SAI) & Fit India. The experience is further enriched by Inc.5 (Gifting Partner), and Big FM (Radio Partner), with execution by Smiling Tiger Experiences LLP.
Founded in 2012, Pinkathon has evolved from a single-city run into a nationwide movement that uses running to build visibility, confidence, and access for women. Following successful editions across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Pune, the Chennai edition marks another key milestone in the 2025–26 calendar, continuing to reinforce that fitness knows no age, ability, or circumstance—and that every woman deserves the opportunity to take her first step.
About Pinkathon
Pinkathon, founded in 2012 by Milind Soman, is India’s biggest women’s run and the world’s first women-only run that goes beyond sports to celebrate health, fitness, and empowerment. Over the years, it has inspired more than half a million women across the country to embrace running and take charge of their physical and emotional well-being. With categories ranging from 3 km to 100 km, Pinkathon welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, including cancer survivors, visually impaired women, baby-wearing mothers, and women running in traditional attire—making it a true movement of inclusivity and community spirit. In 2025–2026, Pinkathon returns to six major cities across India, continuing its mission to create awareness and action around women’s health.
About Zydus Lifesciences
Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., with an overarching purpose of empowering people with freedom to live healthier and more fulfilled lives, is an innovative, global lifesciences company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies. The group has a significant presence in cancer related therapies and offers a wide range of solutions with diagnostics, cytotoxic, supportive & targeted drugs. The group employs over 30,000 people worldwide, including 1,500 scientists engaged in R&D, and is driven by its mission to unlock new possibilities in lifesciences through quality healthcare solutions that impact lives. The group aspires to transform lives through path-breaking discoveries. For more details visit www.zyduslife.com
