Men's title holder Hendrik Ramala of South Africa is the notable absentee from the list of long distance runners, who would take part in the Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathan to be held on January 16.

The organisers have, however, managed to rope in three other athletes who are ranked among the top twenty marathoners in the world and ten overall who hold positions in the top forty runners globally.

Among the leading international marathoners are the two Kenyans -- Stephen Cheptot and Joseph Kahagu, ranked 14 and 15
in the world, who have clocked personal bests of two hours and seven minutes and eight minutes in the past respectively.

"There are also ten runners who have clocked below two hours and ten minutes," organiser Anil Singh of Procam said. The field this year was going to be the best-ever assembled for any marathon held in Australasia.

Last year's women's champion Violetta Uryga of Poland is in the fray with a victory in the Beirut event earlier this
year to add to her credentials.

Violetta is expected to face tough challenge from 14th ranked Russian woman Marina Biktikarova, the winner of the
2003 marathon in Nogano, Japan, 15th-ranked Esther Kiplagat of Kenya and world number 16 Irina Timofeyeva of Russia.

The Indian men's challenge is to be spearheaded by Thane Marathon winner Nathuram (Army Institute, Pune), with a personal best time of 2:28.18.

Veteran Leelamma Alphonso of Western Railway, who finished third last year, heads the challenge in the women's section from the home country.