Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Kenya’s Laban Moiben Sunday won the men’s 42 km Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012 in a photo finish while Ethiopia’s Netsanet Abeyo emerged on top in the women’s category.

Moiben and Ethiopia’s Raji Assefa both finished in 2:10.48 but the former was declared the winner. Kenyan John Kyui was third in 2:10.54.

Moiben, however, could not beat his own previous best timing of 2:09.44 set in Ottawa in May 2010.

For Abeyo, the winner in the women’s section who clocked 2:26.12, this was her third marathon title. She was followed by Fatuma Sado (2:30.20) and Makda Harun (2:30.47), making it an all-Ethiopia affair.

The top winners in the two categories bagged $36,000 each.

Tanzania’s Dickson Marwa and Simon Kasimili were the initial pace setters as they exchanged the lead position during the first 15 km stretch in the men’s section.

However, after the initial surge, Marwa fell behind and Kyui and Moiben took over. It was at about the 30km stretch that Moiben took the lead, which he held throughout.

India’s Ram Singh Yadav clocked 2:16.59 to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, a first for any Indian athlete. He was followed by Alam Singh (2:18.27) and T. A. Rajesh (2:24.25).

Yadav took home $7,500, Singh $6,500 and Rajesh $5,000.