The 16th edition of the SKF Goa River Marathon (SKF-GRM), organised by Vasco Sports Club, will be held on December 13 at Chicalim Panchayat Ground, marking the 75th anniversary of the football club. The event is expected to attract more than 7,500 runners from India and overseas.
SKF India (Industrial) Limited is the Title Sponsor of the marathon. The event will feature five race categories — Full Marathon (42 km), 20 Miler (32 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km and 5 km — with a total prize purse of INR 8 lakh. The races will be open to both elite athletes and recreational runners.
The SKF-GRM is approved by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), with the route measured and certified by AIMS officials. Full-marathon timings will also be recognised by the Abbott World Marathon Majors, allowing finishers to use their times towards qualification for major races including London, Boston, New York and Chicago.
Nitin Bandekar, President, Vasco Sports Club, said, “The response this year has been very encouraging, with 2,500 online registrations already recorded and the number is expected to cross 7,500 runners from across India and overseas for the event this year.”
He said around 65% of participants typically come from outside Goa, while the remaining runners are from the state. Last year, the marathon attracted participants from all 28 states of India and at least 21 foreign countries. According to Bandekar, the event also contributes to tourism revenues in Goa.
Mukund Vasudevan, President – Industrial Region (India, Southeast Asia and Middle East), SKF Group, said, “For more than 75 years, Vasco Sports Club has played an important role in promoting sport, fitness and community spirit in Goa. At SKF, we believe that sustainable progress is driven by strong communities, shared purpose and the opportunity for people to perform at their best. That is why we are proud to partner with this event.”
Abhijeet Salkar, Treasurer, Vasco Sports Club, said the SKF-GRM was among the largest single-day sporting events in Goa in terms of participation. He added that the 5 km race for schoolchildren has gained popularity, with 23 schools participating last year. Vasco Sports Club, which competes in the Goa Professional League, is the oldest football club in Goa. The marathon will start and finish at the Chicalim Panchayat Ground.
Founded in 1907, SKF develops bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions and services aimed at reducing friction and improving industrial efficiency. SKF operates in approximately 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. The company reported annual sales of SEK 91,583 million in 2025 and had 37,271 employees.
