Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships from October 23 to 27. The meet features around 100 events across four age groups: U20, U18, U16, and U14. Both men and women will compete.

The championships offer a major platform for India’s young athletes. Past editions introduced talents such as high jumper Pooja and sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan before their senior careers.

This season has already produced remarkable junior performances. A 17-year-old hammer thrower set a senior national record. An U18 sprinter broke his age-group record twice in one day. Meanwhile, hurdlers combined for six runs faster than the previous national record.

Here are the athletes and events to watch in Chennai.

1. Sprints: Neil Samraj Leads the U18 Field

Neil Samraj Targets a Faster 100m

Tamil Nadu’s Neil Samraj, 17, is a leading contender in the U18 men’s 100m. On September 1, 2026, he broke the U18 national record twice in one day at the Youth Nationals. He now holds the record at 10.46 seconds.

However, Samraj wants more. He told NNIS Sports after his race, “Not really satisfied with my performance. I was targeting a sub-10.40s run, but the race went slow.”

His next race offers another chance to improve that mark.

Pratik Maharana and Aarti Siwach Aim to Impress

Odisha’s Pratik Maharana, 19, will also attract attention. He is the defending U20 200m champion and last year’s 100m silver medallist. His personal bests stand at 10.62 seconds in the 100m and 21.24 seconds in the 200m.

Maharana trains under Siba Misra, who has also coached Dutee Chand. Chand holds the women’s senior national 100m record at 11.17 seconds. Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium track has a reputation for speed. Therefore, both sprinters could challenge their personal bests.

In the women’s U20 sprints, Aarti Siwach will move up from the U18 category. She previously won national titles in both the 100m and 200m. Her personal bests are 11.81 seconds and 24.12 seconds, respectively.

Siwach also won bronze at the 2025 U18 Asian Youth Championships. This season, she joined Reliance and began training under Rohit Manne. The U20 competition will test her against older and stronger rivals.

2. Hurdles: Three Contenders Chase the Men’s Title

Fasalul Haque, Kiran K and Saif Chafekar

The men’s 110m hurdles could deliver one of the closest races of the championships. Kerala’s Fasalul Haque and Kiran K will face Maharashtra’s Saif Chafekar.

These three athletes have made significant progress over the past year. Yuvaraj S, who has now exceeded the U20 age limit, also contributed to the rise in performances.

Together, the four athletes have recorded six times faster than the previous U20 national record. Moreover, athletes have lowered that record three times during the same period. The Chennai final will reveal who currently leads the field.

Nupura Holla Returns to the Spotlight

In the women’s U18 100m hurdles, 16-year-old Nupura Holla is another athlete to watch. She set a personal best of 13.78 seconds while winning the youth title ahead of Shourya Ambure at the Youth Nationals.

Holla also qualified for the Youth Olympics. However, she could not represent India because she holds a US passport. The Chennai championships offer her a major opportunity to compete again after that disappointment.

3. Race Walk: Tushar Panwar Looks to Continue His Progress

Tushar Panwar enters the men’s 5000m race walk after winning bronze in the 21km race walk at the U23 Nationals on October 18, 2026.

Earlier this season, Panwar won the 5km title at the Indian Race-Walking Championships. He also holds the fastest time in the 5000m race walk field.

However, the two distances demand different approaches. The move from 21km to 5000m requires a major adjustment in pace and race strategy. His speed over the shorter distance will be worth watching.

Understanding the Race Walk Records

Nitin Gupta holds the Indian U20 record in the 5000m race walk. Meanwhile, Tushar Panwar holds the record in the 5km race walk.

The distances may sound similar, but the events use different courses. The 5000m race walk takes place on a track. In contrast, the 5km race walk takes place on a road course.

4. Throws: Record-Breakers Return to Competition

Anushka Yadav Returns to the U20 Hammer Throw

Uttar Pradesh’s Anushka Yadav, 17, made headlines this season. She broke the senior women’s hammer throw national record with a throw of 67.02 metres.

She also won the Inter-State Championships and earned selection for India’s Asian Games team. Later, Tanya Chaudhary improved the national record to 68.35 metres.

Yadav now returns to the U20 hammer throw after an eventful season. Her performance in Chennai will show how she responds to the demands of junior competition.

Nischay Brings International Experience

Haryana’s Nischay, 17, is another promising name in the throws. He won silver at the U20 Asian Championships with a U20 national record of 60.10 metres in the discus.

He also represented India at the U20 World Championships. At Chennai, Nischay will compete in the U18 discus and shot put. His participation in both events makes him one of the meet’s most versatile throwers.

5. Jumps: Sadhana Ravi Takes on Two Events

Tamil Nadu’s Sadhana Ravi, 18, will compete in both the women’s long jump and triple jump.

She won the 2025 Junior Federation Cup triple jump with a mark of 12.75 metres. She also claimed the 2025 U18 national long jump title with 5.94 metres.

This season, Ravi earned silver in the triple jump at the U20 Asian Championships. She then improved her personal best to 13.08 metres at the season-opening Open Jumps.

Her long jump season best stands at 5.74 metres. Therefore, both events offer opportunities to assess her progress and consistency.

What to Expect at the National Junior Athletics Championships 2026

The five-day championships will bring together promising athletes across four age groups. Sprinting, hurdles, race walking, throws, and jumps all feature potential breakthrough performances.

Neil Samraj will look to improve his record-breaking sprint times. Meanwhile, the men’s 110m hurdles promises a close contest. Tushar Panwar, Anushka Yadav, Nischay, and Sadhana Ravi will also draw attention in their respective events.

With several athletes already producing national records and international-level results, Chennai offers an important test. The championships will help identify which juniors are ready to take the next step in Indian athletics.