Ultra-marathon runner Sufiya Sufi from Ajmer, Rajasthan, has achieved a new Guinness World Record by completing the 430-kilometre Manali to Leh ultra run in 98 hours and 27 minutes. The high-altitude endurance challenge, completed from 27–31 August 2023, included five mountain passes and a total elevation gain of over 8,500 metres.

Certificate Received in 2026

Sufiya’s achievement was officially recognised by Guinness World Records in 2023, though the certificate reached her in February 2026. The Manali–Leh route is widely regarded as one of the toughest ultra-marathon courses in the world due to extreme weather, high altitude, and difficult terrain.

Previous Record and Motivation

This was not Sufiya’s first Manali–Leh attempt. In 2021, she completed the same route in 156 hours, which was a record at the time but was later surpassed. Motivated to reclaim the title, she returned in 2023. Despite suffering a stomach infection midway, she persevered to set a new benchmark.

Athletic Background

Born on 1 August 1985 in Vaishali Nagar, Ajmer, Sufiya graduated from Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University. She moved to Delhi in 2008 for aviation training and worked as a ground handling officer at Delhi Airport from 2009. In 2019, she left her job to focus on ultra-distance running full-time, taking on some of the most challenging runs in India and abroad.

Record-Breaking Achievements

With this latest feat, Sufiya now holds five Guinness World Records, including runs across India from east to west. She is preparing for a new cross-country run starting 1 August 2024 and plans a global challenge, “Run Around the World”, beginning in December 2024, aiming to cover 30,000 kilometres across 30 countries in 630 days.

Sufiya continues to represent India on the global endurance sports stage, inspiring many with her resilience and dedication to long-distance running.

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