Reigning men's race champion, Kenya's Evans Ruto and his countrymen including Henry Sugut and Luke Kibet, will face stiff competition from three Ethiopian challengers at the $360,000 Mumbai Marathon which will be flagged-off here Sunday.

Last year the Kenyans completed a clean sweep, clinching the top three places, but this year their party could be ambushed by the Ethiopians, who are led by the experienced Dereje Debele, Shume Hailu and Tesfaye Abera.