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Athletics India

18-Aug-2026

Moments from India’s First World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet in Bhubaneswar

India’s first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet came to Bhubaneswar. And it delivered. Around 200 athletes from 26 countries competed under the lights at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Odisha in a one-day meet that produced big jumps, personal bests, an emotional comeback and one monster javelin throw.

Top-Quality Field Set to Light Up World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meeting in Bhubaneswar

18-Aug-2026

As many as 188 athletes from 28 countries will compete at the one-day event, promising an exciting evening of world-class athletics for fans at the stadium and those watching the live streams.

Athletics Federation of India spokesperson Dr. Adille J. Sumariwalla said the presence of several highly ranked athletes would ensure a high-quality competition.

“The presence of so many top athletes, including a couple of them who are in the top 10 in their respective events, will deliver high-quality competition,” Sumariwalla said.

World No. 6 Muzala Samukonga of Zambia will be the highest-ranked athlete in the field. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games 400m bronze medallist has clocked an impressive 44.02 seconds this season.

Nigeria’s World No. 10 Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the Commonwealth Games men’s shot put champion and a Paris Olympic finalist, will be the other top-10 ranked athlete competing in Bhubaneswar.

India’s highest-ranked athlete in the competition will be long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who is currently ranked 15th in the world. The 27-year-old two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist will return to the runway where he produced his season’s best of 8.38m at the AFI National Inter-State Athletics Championships on June 28.

The Indian line-up will also feature prominent names such as men’s javelin thrower Rohit Yadav, two-time Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor and national record holder Animesh Kujur in the men’s 200m. Kujur, a home favourite, will be among the athletes expected to draw considerable attention from the local crowd.

The meeting will also serve as an important preparation event for Indian athletes ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next month.

The men’s 400m, shot put and javelin throw, along with the women’s 100m hurdles, discus throw and javelin throw, are expected to produce particularly intense competition, with strong international fields assembled across these events.

With continued support from the Government of Odisha, the Athletics Federation of India has upgraded the event from a Continental Tour Bronze Meeting last year to a Silver-level meeting this season.

Host India will field the largest contingent with 88 athletes. Sri Lanka will send 17 competitors, while South Africa and Brazil will have 14 and 11 athletes respectively.

With a strong international field, several of India’s leading athletes in action and the added significance of the Asian Games preparations, the Bhubaneswar meeting promises a high-quality night of athletics at the Kalinga Stadium.

National Sports Awards 2025 Announced: Tejaswin Shankar, Ajmal and Priyanka Goswami Among Arjuna Awardees

It is a big day for Indian athletics. Tejaswin Shankar, Muhammed Ajmal and Priyanka Goswami are among the 17 sportspersons named for the Arjuna Award 2025, as the Government announced this year’s National Sports Awards on Monday.

And there are plenty of familiar names across the list.

Badminton stars Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand, chess players Vidit Santosh Gujarathi and Divya Jitendra Deshmukh, and hockey players Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal are among those being honoured.

Athletics, though, has particular reason to celebrate, with three Arjuna Awardees this year.

The awards were finalised on the recommendations of a Selection Committee chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra.

17 Sportspersons Get Arjuna Awards
The Arjuna Award recognises athletes for outstanding performances over the previous four years, while also taking into account qualities such as leadership, sportsmanship and discipline.

The 17 Arjuna Awardees for 2025 are:

Tejaswin Shankar — Athletics
Muhammed Ajmal — Athletics
Priyanka Goswami — Athletics
Treesa Jolly — Badminton
Pullela Gayatri Gopichand — Badminton
Narender — Boxing
Vidit Santosh Gujarathi — Chess
Divya Jitendra Deshmukh — Chess
Dhanush Srikanth — Deaf Shooting
Lalremsiami — Hockey
Rajkumar Pal — Hockey
Surjeet — Kabaddi
Pooja — Kabaddi
Rudransh Khandelwal — Para Shooting
Ekta Bhyan — Para Athletics
Arvind Singh — Rowing
Akhil Sheoran — Shooting
The list covers 11 sporting disciplines, with athletics leading the way with three awardees.

Arumainayagam Gets Lifetime Arjuna
Former footballer I Arumainayagam has been selected for the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 2025.

The Lifetime honour recognises sportspersons who made a significant contribution through their performances and continued to work for the promotion of sport after retiring from active competition.

Five Coaches Named for Dronacharya Awards
Five coaches have been selected for the Dronacharya Award 2025, which recognises coaches who have consistently produced outstanding results and helped athletes excel at the international level.

In the regular category, the awardees are:

Parveer Singh — Athletics
Chhote Lal Yadav — Boxing
Neha Nandkumar Chavan — Shooting
Two coaches will receive the award in the Lifetime category:

Dharmendra Singh Yadav — Boxing
Virender Kumar — Wrestling
Army Paralympic Node Honoured
The Army Paralympic Node, Pune has been selected for the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025, recognising its contribution to the promotion and development of sport.

The National Sports Awards are presented annually by the Government of India to recognise outstanding sportspersons and coaches, as well as individuals and organisations that have contributed to building and promoting sporting culture in the country.