While Indian Series-9 is already a crucial competition for senior athletes chasing Commonwealth Games qualification, Indian Series-9 and Indian Series-10 scheduled for June 13 and 14 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, and NCOE Trivandrum, respectively will also serve as the selection trials for athletes aiming to qualify for the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, scheduled to be held from August 5 to 9 at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, in Eugene, USA.

Indian Series-9, scheduled for June 13 in Ludhiana, will serve as the qualification competition for the following World U20 Championships events: 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 3000m Steeplechase, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw and Javelin Throw.

Meanwhile, Indian Series-10, scheduled for June 14 at NCOE Trivandrum, will act as the qualification competition for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 110m/100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump and Triple Jump.

As per World Athletics regulations, only athletes who are 16, 17, 18 or 19 years old on December 31, 2026 (born in 2010, 2009, 2008 or 2007) are eligible to compete at the World U20 Championships.

Based on performances at the Junior Federation Cup 2026 and the Asian U20 Championships, several Indian athletes will be looking to challenge the qualification standards in the upcoming meets.

Athletes to watch 

 

Men

  • 100m: Aditya Pisal
  • 200m: Rudra Shinde, Pratik Maharana
  • 400m: Mohammed Ashfaq, Piyush Raj, Seyed Sabeer
  • 800m: Mogali Venkatram
  • 110m Hurdles: Kiran K, Saif Farooq, Fasalul Haque
  • High Jump: Basant, Afroz Ahmad
  • Long Jump: Shahnawaz Khan, Jithin Arjunan
  • Triple Jump: Royshan P
  • Shot Put: Sai Kiran
  • Discus Throw: Nischay
  • Javelin Throw: Rishabh Giri
  • Decathlon: Rahul Jhakkar, Upkar

Women

  • 100m: Nipam, Aarti
  • 200m: Aarti, Bhoomika Nehate
  • 400m: Neeru Pathak, Tahura Khatun
  • 100m Hurdles: Yamini, Bhavana
  • 400m Hurdles: Tanu Chaudhary
  • High Jump: Pooja
  • Triple Jump: Sadhana Ravi
  • Discus Throw: Amanat Kamboj
  • Hammer Throw: Nandini, Anushka Yadav
  • Javelin Throw: Poonam, Bhavya

With qualification marks set at a high level, the two meets could prove decisive in shaping India’s squad for Eugene 2026.

Note: In the 5km Race Walk, Nitin (Men) and Ranjana and Yogita (Women) have already achieved the World U20 Championships qualification standards at the Junior Federation Cup 2026.