Bhubaneswar, August 17 — The vibrant city of Bhubaneswar is readying itself for an extraordinary showcase of speed, strength, and global sporting excellence as the Kalinga Stadium prepares to host the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meeting on August 22. Bringing together the finest talents from across the globe, this upgraded silver-tier event promises an unforgettable evening for track and field enthusiasts both in the stands and tuning in worldwide.
The prestigious one-day meet has attracted 188 competitors representing 28 nations, headlined by an exceptional contingent of 36 athletes ranked within the top 50 of the official World Athletics lists.
Athletics Federation of India spokesperson Dr. Adille J. Sumariwalla expressed immense excitement ahead of the event, noting that the presence of so many top competitors, including a couple in the top 10 of their respective events, will deliver high-quality competition for fans in the stadium and those watching the live streams.
Among the international stars descending upon Odisha, two standout competitors lead the charge with top 10 global rankings. Muzala Samukonga, the World No. 6 and Paris 2024 Olympic men’s 400m bronze medallist from Zambia, stands as the highest-ranked athlete in the competition, carrying an impressive 44.02-second run clocked this season. Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the World No. 10, Commonwealth Games men’s Shot Put champion, and Paris Olympic finalist, also brings world-class power to the throwing circle. Global representation is robust, featuring notable squads from Sri Lanka with 17 athletes, South Africa with 14, and Brazil with 11, contributing to a total field that includes 88 Indian competitors alongside international peers.
Leading the charge for the host nation is Murali Sreeshankar. The 27-year-old two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, currently ranked 15th globally in the men’s long jump, returns eagerly to the Kalinga Stadium runway, the very spot where he soared to a stellar season’s best leap of 8.38m during the AFI National Inter-State Athletics Championships on June 28. Other prominent Indian stars aiming to thrill the home crowd include men’s javelin thrower Rohit Yadav, two-time Asian Games men’s shotput champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and men’s 200m national record holder and local favourite Animesh Kujur. For these Indian competitors, the meeting serves as an invaluable competitive stepping stone in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next month.
Fans can expect fierce battles across several headline disciplines boasting deep international fields, particularly in the men’s 400m, shot put, and javelin throw, as well as the women’s 100m hurdles, discus throw, and javelin throw events.
Thanks to the steadfast partnership and backing of the Government of Odisha, the AFI has successfully elevated the tournament from a Bronze-level prize money event last year to a prestigious Continental Tour Silver Meeting. Dr. Sumariwalla expressed gratitude to the Odisha Government for its continued support of track and field sport, adding that they are hopeful Odisha will eventually host even a Gold Level Meeting.