India is gearing up for an exciting athletics week as the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships are scheduled to take place at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (Odisha), from June 24-28, 2026.
Here are the event-wise top women athletes to watch:
100m
The field is packed with talent. Athletes to watch include Sneha S S, the veteran sprinter who has consistently challenged younger competitors over the years; Harita Bhadra, India’s Indoor Champion, who clocked India’s second-fastest time of the season (11.55s) in her last competition; and Giridharani Ravikumar, who leads the national season rankings with 11.45s.
Sudheshna Shivankar has also impressed this season, registering a lifetime best of 11.56s, the third-fastest time in India this year. Other names to watch include Nithya Gandhe, Jilna M V, Abinaya Rajarajan, and several emerging sprinters.
400m
Although this event is yet to produce something extraordinary this season, the field remains packed with elite athletes.
Kiran Pahal, India’s all-time second-fastest quarter-miler, recently clocked 52.89s, the second-fastest time by an Indian this season. She will face strong competition from Ansa Babu, who has been remarkably consistent and registered a lifetime best of 52.94s, India’s third-fastest time this year.
Rashdeep Kaur, who has also posted a personal best this season and impressed in relay races, will be another athlete to watch. Additionally, U20 national record holder Neeru Pathak could spring a surprise.
100m Hurdles – Jyothi Yarraji
India’s hurdle queen Jyothi Yarraji is set to make her comeback after a lengthy injury layoff. The Interstate Championships will mark her season opener and serve as an Asian Games qualifier.
The reigning Asian champion stunned everyone at the Asian Athletics Championships by winning gold in 12.96s. She will be targeting the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34s.
India’s only sub-13-second women’s hurdler and silver medallist from the previous Asian Games recently told NNIS Sports: “I will be looking to post another PB. I am back and better.”
400m Hurdles – Vithya Ramraj
India’s 400m hurdles national record holder, jointly with P.T. Usha, will be one of the biggest attractions at the championships.
Vithya has clocked 56.61s this season and will be aiming to go below the 56-second mark again. Her personal best stands at 55.42s, set in 2023. It has been almost two years since she last ran sub-56 seconds, something she will be eager to change at this meet.
Her form has been encouraging, having also clocked 52.22s in the flat 400m, currently India’s fastest time this season.
High Jump – Pooja
Pooja, India’s U20 High Jump national record holder and newly crowned senior national record holder, will be in action at the Interstate Championships.
She broke the U20 national record multiple times before producing a historic clearance of 1.93m — the highest jump ever by an Indian woman and a new senior national record.
Pooja has already achieved the qualification standard for the World U20 Championships and has also been named in India’s squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Long Jump – Ancy Sojan
2026 Federation Cup champion Ancy Sojan produced one of the standout performances of the season while chasing the Commonwealth Games qualification standard.
She leapt a lifetime best of 6.75m, making her India’s third-best long jumper of all time. The Asian Games 2023 silver medallist will certainly be one of the athletes to watch in Bhubaneswar.
Other contenders in the event include Pavana Nagaraj, Mubassina, and Shaili Singh, ensuring an exciting battle in the sand pit.