The South Zone athletics 2026 results have a clear headline: Tamil Nadu won the overall title at the 37th South Zone Junior Athletics Championships in Puducherry, while Karnataka finished second. More than 1,500 athletes from seven states and union territories competed over three days at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.

However, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has not yet published the complete result sheets for this meet. This page therefore lists every result that published reports have confirmed so far, along with the source for each one. We will also add the full event-wise results here as soon as the official sheets are out.

South Zone Junior Athletics Championships 2026 at a glance

3
days
16 to 18 September
7
teams
states and union territories
1,500+
athletes
as reported from Puducherry
4
meet records
confirmed so far

Jump to: Overall title Meet records Medal winners Teams and age groups What comes next Official results

South Zone athletics 2026 results: Tamil Nadu take the overall title

Tamil Nadu finished first in the overall standings, and Karnataka took second place. Dinamalar reported the result after the closing ceremony in Puducherry. However, the points table is not public yet, so the final scores of the seven teams are still unknown.

Karnataka’s challenge also came with records. For example, athletes from Alva’s in Moodbidri won 26 medals and set five meet records, according to Udayavani.

OVERALL CHAMPIONS
Tamil Nadu
RUNNERS-UP
Karnataka

Meet records at the South Zone athletics 2026 championships

Four meet records are confirmed so far. Above all, two of them had stood for more than 20 years.

Event Athlete Team New record Old record
U20 women’s heptathlon Tholem Sriteja Telangana 4,965 points 4,817 points (1994)
U20 men’s hammer throw Salim Karnataka 64.09m 62.44m (2003)
U20 women’s 3000m steeplechase K. Swapna Telangana 11:25.39 Not reported
U18 women’s javelin throw J.V. Joshna Tamil Nadu Not reported Stood for four years

Tholem Sriteja breaks a 32-year-old heptathlon record

Tholem Sriteja of Telangana scored 4,965 points in the U20 women’s heptathlon. As a result, she broke the record of 4,817 points that Sumavathi of Karnataka had set in 1994. Sriteja is 19 and comes from Bhadrachalam. She also won the heptathlon gold at the 2025 National Junior Championships, according to Telangana Today.

Salim throws 64.09m in the hammer

Salim, from Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, won the U20 men’s hammer throw with 64.09m. That throw beat a South Zone record of 62.44m, which had stood since 2003.

Records for K. Swapna and J.V. Joshna

In addition, K. Swapna of Telangana set a meet record of 11:25.39 in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. J.V. Joshna of Tamil Nadu also won the U18 women’s javelin throw. In doing so, she broke a record that had stood for four years.

South Zone athletics 2026 results: confirmed medal winners

The table below lists every medal that published reports have confirmed. However, it is not the full result list, because AFI has not released the official sheets yet.

Athlete Event Medal Mark Age group Team or institution
Tholem Sriteja Heptathlon GOLD 4,965 pts (record) U20 women Telangana
Salim Hammer throw GOLD 64.09m (record) U20 men Karnataka
K. Swapna 3000m steeplechase GOLD 11:25.39 (record) U20 women Telangana
J.V. Joshna Javelin throw GOLD Record; mark not reported U18 women Tamil Nadu
Nallavelli Anandi 400m GOLD 56.42 U18 women Telangana
Nallavelli Anandi 200m BRONZE 25.66 U18 women Telangana
Anandi (relay team) Medley relay BRONZE – U18 women Telangana
Santhosh Krishnan 80m hurdles GOLD 10.50 U16 boys Tamil Nadu
Sai Aditya 600m GOLD 1:24 U16 boys Telangana
Sai Aditya (relay team) Medley relay GOLD – U16 boys Telangana
Uday Kiran Long jump GOLD 6.86m Not reported Telangana
Sushant Reddy 3000m steeplechase BRONZE – U20 men Telangana
Manoj 5000m BRONZE – U20 men Telangana
Sakshi Christina Karkada (relay team) Medley relay GOLD – U18 women Karnataka
Sakshi Christina Karkada 100m hurdles BRONZE – U18 women Karnataka
Amirtha J 3000m GOLD – U20 women PSGR Krishnammal College, Coimbatore
Brinda A High jump GOLD – U20 women PSGR Krishnammal College, Coimbatore
Brinda A (relay team) 4x100m relay GOLD – U20 women PSGR Krishnammal College, Coimbatore
Yuvan Sharavan 400m GOLD – U20 men PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore
Yuvan Sharavan 400m hurdles SILVER – U20 men PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore
Yuvan Sharavan (relay team) 4x400m relay SILVER – U20 men PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore

How to read this table. Where a report did not give the age group, we have taken it from the official programme. For example, the 600m is only run in the Under 16 group, and the 400m hurdles only in the Under 20 group. A dash means the report did not give a time or distance.

Tamil Nadu

Santhosh Krishnan won the U16 boys’ 80m hurdles in 10.50 seconds. He trains at the SDAT sports hostel in Madurai. In addition, three athletes from Coimbatore colleges won gold. Brinda A won the high jump and the 4x100m relay, while Amirtha J won the U20 women’s 3000m. Yuvan Sharavan also won the 400m, and then took silver in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay.

Telangana

Telangana athletes feature heavily in the confirmed results. Nallavelli Anandi won the U18 women’s 400m in 56.42 seconds, and then added bronze in the 200m in 25.66. Similarly, Uday Kiran won the long jump with 6.86m, while Sai Aditya won the 600m and a medley relay gold.

Karnataka

Sakshi Christina Karkada of Mangaluru won gold in the U18 medley relay as well as bronze in the U18 100m hurdles. She now plans to compete at the junior nationals in Chennai, according to Daijiworld.

Who competed: teams, age groups and rules

Seven teams make up the South Zone: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Each of them could enter two athletes per event in each age group. In addition, an athlete could take part in two individual events.

Age group Born between
Under 14 19 September 2012 and 18 September 2014
Under 16 19 September 2010 and 18 September 2012
Under 18 19 September 2008 and 18 September 2010
Under 20 19 September 2006 and 18 September 2008

The programme covered track events, field events, combined events and relays, so every age group had its own set of events. You can still see the timetable on the AFI page for the meet.

What comes next after the South Zone athletics 2026 meet

The junior season now moves to the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships. Chennai will host that meet at the JN Stadium from 23 to 27 October 2026. Online entries close on 9 October, and every athlete needs the AFI entry standard for the event. Therefore, athletes and coaches should check their South Zone marks against the entry standards in the AFI circular before the deadline.

Meanwhile, senior athletes are in action this week at the National Open Athletics Championships 2026 in New Delhi.

Official South Zone athletics 2026 result sheets: current status

As of 5 October 2026, the AFI results archive has the North Zone Junior results. However, it does not yet have the South, East or West Zone results. Until AFI publishes them, these links are the most useful:

Results you can open now

Last year: South Zone 2025 in Guntur

Guntur hosted the 36th edition from 23 to 25 September 2025. Neil Samraj of Tamil Nadu won the U18 100m there in 10.86 seconds. Since then, he has broken the U18 100m national record twice in one day. Similarly, Mohammed Ashfaq of Kerala won the U20 400m in 47.31 seconds.

Neil Samraj, the South Zone 2025 U18 100m champion, who broke the U18 100m national record in 2026
Neil Samraj won the U18 100m at the South Zone meet in 2025. A year later, he broke the U18 national record with 10.46 seconds.

That is why the South Zone meet matters. It is often the first place where the next national record holder wins a title.

Read next

South Zone athletics 2026 results: Tamil Nadu overall champions, Karnataka runners-up

The 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026 will take place from 8 to 11 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Over four days, India’s senior athletes will contest 48 finals, from the men’s pole vault on Thursday afternoon to the men’s 4x400m relay on Sunday night.

This page has the full day-wise schedule with timings in IST, as well as the time of every final, the entry standards and the rules for athletes. We will also add results here after each session, so athletes, coaches and families can follow the whole meet in one place.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026 at a glance

Download the National Open 2026 schedule (PDF)

4
days
8 to 11 October
48
finals
men, women and mixed
78
events
heats, rounds and finals
16
finals on Sunday
the busiest day

Jump to: Final timings Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Results Entry standards

National Open Athletics Championships 2026 schedule: how the four days break down

The programme builds towards the weekend. Thursday has seven finals, Friday has 14 and Saturday has 11, while Sunday closes the meet with 16. Each day runs in two sessions: a short morning session for the combined events and race walks, and then a long evening session under lights for the track and field finals.

Finals per day

Day 1 Thursday 8 October7 finals
Day 2 Friday 9 October14 finals
Day 3 Saturday 10 October11 finals
Day 4 Sunday 11 October16 finals
Animesh Kujur on the track at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, venue of the National Open Athletics Championships 2026
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium track during the Indian Athletics Final Series in September, where Animesh Kujur won the men’s 100m. The same stadium hosts the National Open.

When is each final? Timings for every event

If you are following one athlete or one event, this is the table you need. All timings are in IST and come from the official schedule (version 1.0, dated 30 September 2026).

Track finals

Event Men’s final Women’s final
100m Fri 9 Oct, 6:30 pm Thu 8 Oct, 6:30 pm
200m Sun 11 Oct, 6:10 pm Sun 11 Oct, 6:00 pm
400m Fri 9 Oct, 6:10 pm Fri 9 Oct, 6:00 pm
800m Sun 11 Oct, 6:30 pm Sun 11 Oct, 6:20 pm
1500m Fri 9 Oct, 7:35 pm Fri 9 Oct, 7:25 pm
5000m Sat 10 Oct, 7:40 pm Thu 8 Oct, 7:45 pm
10,000m Thu 8 Oct, 8:05 pm Sat 10 Oct, 7:00 pm
110m / 100m hurdles Fri 9 Oct, 6:50 pm Fri 9 Oct, 7:10 pm
400m hurdles Sun 11 Oct, 5:30 pm Sun 11 Oct, 5:45 pm
3000m steeplechase Sun 11 Oct, 7:00 pm Sun 11 Oct, 7:20 pm

Field events, race walks, relays and combined events

Event Men’s final Women’s final
High jump Sat 10 Oct, 5:20 pm Sun 11 Oct, 5:50 pm
Pole vault Thu 8 Oct, 4:25 pm Sat 10 Oct, 4:40 pm
Long jump Sun 11 Oct, 6:35 pm Sat 10 Oct, 6:40 pm
Triple jump Fri 9 Oct, 6:30 pm Thu 8 Oct, 7:10 pm
Shot put Sat 10 Oct, 4:45 pm Fri 9 Oct, 6:20 pm
Discus throw Fri 9 Oct, 6:40 pm Thu 8 Oct, 6:40 pm
Hammer throw Thu 8 Oct, 4:45 pm Sat 10 Oct, 5:00 pm
Javelin throw Sun 11 Oct, 5:20 pm Sat 10 Oct, 6:15 pm
Half marathon race walk Fri 9 Oct, 5:45 am Fri 9 Oct, 5:47 am
Marathon race walk Sun 11 Oct, 5:40 am Sun 11 Oct, 5:42 am
4x100m relay Sat 10 Oct, 6:45 pm Sat 10 Oct, 6:35 pm
4x400m relay Sun 11 Oct, 7:50 pm Sun 11 Oct, 7:40 pm
Decathlon / Heptathlon Ends Fri 9 Oct, 7:45 pm (1500m) Ends Sun 11 Oct, 6:40 pm (800m)

In addition, the two mixed relays are on separate nights: the 4x100m mixed relay final is on Fri 9 Oct, 8:00 pm and the 4x400m mixed relay final is on Sat 10 Oct, 8:00 pm.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026: full day-wise schedule

Rows marked FINAL decide medals. Everything else is either a heat, a qualification round or a combined-event discipline.

Download the official schedule (PDF)

Day 1: Thursday 8 October 2026 (7 finals)

The meet opens with the decathlon 100m at 7:30 am. After that, the men’s pole vault decides the first medals from 4:25 pm. In addition, the women’s 100m has its heats and its final on the same evening.

Time (IST) Event Category Round
7:30 am 100m Men Decathlon
8:15 am Long jump Men Decathlon
8:30 am Discus throw Men Qualification, Group A
9:30 am Shot put Men Decathlon
9:40 am Discus throw Men Qualification, Group B
4:00 pm 400m Women Round 1
4:25 pm Pole vault Men FINAL
4:30 pm 400m Men Round 1
4:40 pm High jump Men Decathlon
4:45 pm Hammer throw Men FINAL
5:00 pm 100m Men Round 1
5:30 pm 100m Women Round 1
6:10 pm 100m Men Semi-final
6:30 pm 100m Women FINAL
6:40 pm Discus throw Women FINAL
6:50 pm 400m Men Decathlon
7:10 pm Triple jump Women FINAL
7:10 pm 400m Women Semi-final
7:25 pm 400m Men Semi-final
7:45 pm 5000m Women FINAL
8:05 pm 10,000m Men FINAL

Day 2: Friday 9 October 2026 (14 finals)

The half marathon race walks start before sunrise. The evening has both 400m finals, the men’s 100m final and the last event of the decathlon.

Time (IST) Event Category Round
5:45 am Half marathon race walk Men FINAL
5:47 am Half marathon race walk Women FINAL
7:30 am 110m hurdles Men Decathlon
8:10 am Discus throw Men Decathlon
9:40 am Pole vault Men Decathlon
5:00 pm Javelin throw Men Decathlon
5:30 pm 100m hurdles Women Round 1
6:00 pm 400m Women FINAL
6:10 pm 400m Men FINAL
6:20 pm Shot put Women FINAL
6:30 pm Triple jump Men FINAL
6:30 pm 100m Men FINAL
6:40 pm Discus throw Men FINAL
6:50 pm 110m hurdles Men FINAL
7:10 pm 100m hurdles Women FINAL
7:25 pm 1500m Women FINAL
7:35 pm 1500m Men FINAL
7:45 pm 1500m Men FINAL Decathlon (final event)
8:00 pm 4x100m mixed relay Mixed FINAL
Vishal TK at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, after winning the men's 400m at the Indian Athletics Final Series 2026
Vishal TK won the 400m in 45.36 at this stadium in September. The National Open 400m finals are on Friday evening.

Day 3: Saturday 10 October 2026 (11 finals)

The heptathlon begins in the morning. The evening has both 4x100m relays, the women’s 10,000m and the men’s 5000m, and ends with the 4x400m mixed relay.

Time (IST) Event Category Round
7:30 am 100m hurdles Women Heptathlon
8:15 am High jump Women Heptathlon
4:30 pm 400m hurdles Men Round 1
4:40 pm Pole vault Women FINAL
4:45 pm Shot put Men FINAL
4:50 pm 400m hurdles Women Round 1
5:00 pm Hammer throw Women FINAL
5:15 pm 200m Women Round 1
5:20 pm High jump Men FINAL
5:30 pm 200m Men Round 1
6:00 pm 200m Women Heptathlon
6:15 pm Shot put Women Heptathlon
6:15 pm Javelin throw Women FINAL
6:20 pm 800m Men Round 1
6:35 pm 4x100m relay Women FINAL
6:40 pm Long jump Women FINAL
6:45 pm 4x100m relay Men FINAL
7:00 pm 10,000m Women FINAL
7:40 pm 5000m Men FINAL
8:00 pm 4x400m mixed relay Mixed FINAL

Day 4: Sunday 11 October 2026 (16 finals)

The final day is the biggest: 16 finals, including the 200m, 800m, 400m hurdles, both steeplechases, the men’s javelin and the 4x400m relays.

Time (IST) Event Category Round
5:40 am Marathon race walk Men FINAL
5:42 am Marathon race walk Women FINAL
8:30 am Long jump Women Heptathlon
9:45 am Javelin throw Women Heptathlon
5:20 pm Javelin throw Men FINAL
5:30 pm 400m hurdles Men FINAL
5:45 pm 400m hurdles Women FINAL
5:50 pm High jump Women FINAL
6:00 pm 200m Women FINAL
6:10 pm 200m Men FINAL
6:20 pm 800m Women FINAL
6:30 pm 800m Men FINAL
6:35 pm Long jump Men FINAL
6:40 pm 800m Women FINAL Heptathlon (final event)
7:00 pm 3000m steeplechase Men FINAL
7:20 pm 3000m steeplechase Women FINAL
7:40 pm 4x400m relay Women FINAL
7:50 pm 4x400m relay Men FINAL

Three points are worth noting from the schedule. To begin with, the schedule lists the men’s 110m hurdles and the women’s 800m as straight finals, with no heats. Similarly, the 200m has only one round before the final. Finally, the men’s discus is the only field event with a qualification round, held in two groups on Thursday morning with a qualifying mark of 58.50m.

The schedule is version 1.0. AFI can revise timings once it confirms the final entries, so check the latest version before you travel to the stadium.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026 results

Competition starts on Thursday 8 October. After that, we will add the results of every final to this section after each session, together with the official result sheets. Until then, results from every other AFI meet this season are on our Indian athletics results page.

Decathlon and heptathlon schedule

The men’s decathlon is on Thursday and Friday. It starts with the 100m at 7:30 am on 8 October and then finishes with the 1500m at 7:45 pm on 9 October. Similarly, the women’s heptathlon is on Saturday and Sunday. It starts with the 100m hurdles at 7:30 am on 10 October and then finishes with the 800m at 6:40 pm on 11 October.

Who can compete at the National Open

Entries come from state and union territory athletics associations as well as from recognised sports boards and institutions. According to the AFI circular, an athlete must have achieved the entry standard and must also meet one of two conditions:

Eligibility conditions

Rule What the circular says
Athletes per event Maximum three per state or board
Events per athlete Two individual events and two relays
Relay teams One team per state or board in each relay, up to six athletes named
Relay eligibility Every relay runner must have the individual entry standard
Entry window 7 to 28 September 2026, online only (now closed)
Entry fee ₹1,000 per event per athlete; ₹1,000 per relay team

National Open 2026 entry standards

Athletes needed these marks in order to enter. They are also a useful benchmark for younger athletes who want to know what national senior level looks like.

Event Men Women
100m 10.75 12.10
200m 21.75 24.50
400m 48.00 57.50
800m 1:52.50 2:11.00
1500m 3:52.00 4:32.00
5000m 14:30.00 17:20.00
10,000m 30:30.00 38:30.00
110m / 100m hurdles 14.30 15.00
400m hurdles 53.00 1:02.00
3000m steeplechase 9:10.00 11:00.00
High jump 2.05m 1.65m
Pole vault 4.50m 3.00m
Long jump 7.35m 5.90m
Triple jump 15.40m 12.50m
Shot put 16.50m 13.00m
Discus throw 52.00m 45.00m
Javelin throw 70.00m 42.00m
Hammer throw 60.00m 52.00m
Half marathon race walk 1:33:00 1:50:00
Marathon race walk 3:21:00 4:20:00
Decathlon / Heptathlon 6200 points 4500 points
4x100m relay (each runner, 100m) 10.90 12.40
4x400m relay (each runner, 400m) 49.00 1:00.00

Starting heights in the jumps

Event Starting height How the bar goes up
Men’s high jump 1.95m 5cm steps to 2.10m, 3cm steps to 2.22m, then 2cm
Women’s high jump 1.55m 5cm steps to 1.70m, 3cm steps to 1.82m, then 2cm
Men’s pole vault 4.30m 20cm steps to 4.70m, 10cm steps to 5.10m, then 5cm
Women’s pole vault 2.80m 20cm steps to 3.60m, 10cm steps to 4.00m, then 5cm

What athletes and families should know before travelling

Checklist from the AFI circular

The stadium also has its own stop on the Delhi Metro. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station is on the Violet Line.

Tanya Chaudhary with a New National Record board at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, during the Indian Athletics Final Series 2026
The stadium was a good place for records in September: Tanya Chaudhary and Nirbhay Choudhary both broke the hammer throw national records there.

Why this National Open matters

The meet comes four days after the close of the Asian Games in Nagoya, where India won 24 athletics medals. On AFI’s 2026 calendar it is the last national championship for senior athletes, which makes it the final chance of the season to win a national title or improve a ranking mark.

It has also been a record-heavy year. Our count had 26 national records by mid-July, and more have fallen since. For athletes who missed selection for Nagoya, four days in Delhi are therefore an opportunity to end the season with a statement.

Last year: Ranchi 2025

Ranchi hosted the 64th National Open from 27 to 30 September 2025. Manikanta Hoblidhar won the men’s 100m, Rajesh Ramesh won the 400m, Samardeep Singh Gill beat Tajinderpal Singh Toor in the shot put, and Rishabh Nehra won the javelin with a throw beyond 80m.

Read next

Vishal TK competes in the men's 400m final at the 2026 Asian Games.

India’s Tanya Chaudhary finished fourth in the women’s hammer throw final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, setting a new personal best of 65.35m with her final attempt.

Her teammate Anushka Yadav also delivered a strong performance, finishing fifth with a best throw of 64.56m.

The results placed two Indian athletes inside the top five in a competitive continental final.

Tanya Chaudhary Sets Personal Best With Final Throw

Tanya saved her best performance for the final round of the competition.

On her sixth and last attempt, she produced a throw of 65.35m, setting a new personal best.

The effort secured her fourth place and highlighted her ability to deliver under pressure.

Her final-round improvement brought her close to the medal positions, although she ultimately finished outside the podium.

Anushka Yadav Finishes Fifth

India’s Anushka Yadav also produced a consistent performance in the women’s hammer throw final.

She recorded a best mark of 64.56m, securing fifth place.

Her result ensured that India had two athletes among the top five finishers in the event.

Zhang Jiale Wins Gold With Asian Record

China’s Zhang Jiale won the gold medal with an outstanding throw of 78.27m, setting a new Asian record.

Her compatriot Zhao Jie claimed silver with 74.83m, while Joy Iris McArthur secured bronze with 68.42m.

Women’s Hammer Throw Final Results

Position

Athlete

Country

Distance

Gold

Zhang Jiale

China

78.27m (AR)

Silver

Zhao Jie

China

74.83m

Bronze

Joy Iris McArthur

—

68.42m

4th

Tanya Chaudhary

India

65.35m (PB)

5th

Anushka Yadav

India

64.56m

India Places Two Athletes in the Top Five

Tanya Chaudhary’s personal best and Anushka Yadav’s fifth-place finish marked a strong showing for India in the women’s hammer throw.

Although neither athlete reached the podium, both finished among the top five in a highly competitive field.

Tanya finished fourth with a personal best of 65.35m, while Anushka placed fifth with 64.56m at the Asian Games 2026.

Tanya Chaudhary throws 65.35m for a personal best in the women's hammer throw at Asian Games 2026

India’s Dev Kumar Meena set a new national record of 5.50m in the men’s pole vault final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. However, his performance was not enough to secure a medal, as he finished seventh in a highly competitive field.

Dev produced one of the standout individual performances of the event. His clearance of 5.50m was the highest ever achieved by an Indian pole vaulter at an Asian Games.

Despite the national record, India’s pole vault campaign ended without a medal.

Dev Kumar Meena Sets National Record of 5.50m

Dev began his competition by passing 5.05m before clearing 5.20m on his second attempt.

He then cleared 5.35m on his first attempt, putting himself in a strong position to challenge higher heights.

The Indian successfully cleared 5.50m on his second attempt, setting a new national record.

The clearance improved his previous personal best and national record of 5.46m by four centimetres.

It was a significant milestone for the young vaulter and another sign of his progress in the event.

Dev Misses Out at 5.60m

After clearing 5.50m, Dev attempted to go higher.

However, he was unable to clear 5.60m after three attempts, bringing his competition to an end.

His final clearance of 5.50m secured seventh place in the men’s final.

Although the national record marked a major personal achievement, it did not translate into an Asian Games medal.

Kuldeep Kumar Also Misses the Podium

India had two athletes competing in the men’s pole vault final, with Kuldeep Kumar joining Dev in the competition.

Kuldeep could not secure a podium finish either, leaving India without a medal despite having two representatives in the final.

The result highlighted the high standard of competition in Nagoya. Dev’s 5.50m clearance was a significant performance, but the medal battle required even higher clearances.

National Record but No Asian Games Medal

For India, the headline from the men’s pole vault final was a national record without a medal.

Dev’s clearance of 5.50m showed that he continues to push the boundaries of Indian pole vaulting.

However, the result also highlighted the challenge of converting record-breaking performances into podium finishes at major championships.

India had two athletes in the final, and Dev established a new national record. Yet the medal remained out of reach.

Dev Kumar Meena leaves Nagoya with a national record of 5.50m and a seventh-place finish in the men’s pole vault final.

Dev Kumar Meena sets a 5.50m national record in the men's pole vault at Asian Games 2026

India produced a strong performance in the men’s javelin final at the Nagoya Asian Games, with Yashvir Singh winning silver and Rohit Yadav securing bronze.

Yashvir pushed Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage throughout the competition and briefly held the lead. However, Pathirage produced a winning throw of 88.55m to claim gold.

Yashvir secured silver with a personal best of 85.72m, while Rohit added bronze with 84.35m. The result gave India two athletes on the same Asian Games javelin podium.

Yashvir Singh Sets Personal Best to Win Silver

Making his Asian Games debut, Yashvir delivered an impressive performance in what has been a rapid rise this season.

His first three throws measured 83.56m, 82.99m and 82.42m. These efforts kept him firmly in medal contention.

His fourth attempt of 84.31m moved him closer to the top of the standings. He then produced 85.14m in the fifth round.

Yashvir saved his best for the final attempt, throwing 85.72m to set a new personal best and confirm his silver medal.

At one stage, the Indian briefly moved to the top of the standings. However, Pathirage responded with his winning throw of 88.55m to secure gold.

Rohit Yadav Adds Bronze With Consistent Throws

Rohit Yadav also delivered a consistent performance in the final.

His best throw of 84.35m came in the third round, following efforts of 77.25m and 82.40m.

He then recorded 82.16m and 82.15m before his final attempt was marked as a foul.

Four of Rohit’s five valid throws exceeded 82 metres, underlining the consistency of his performance.

His bronze medal added another major championship achievement to a season in which he had established himself as one of India’s leading javelin throwers.

India’s Javelin Legacy at the Asian Games

The two medals are significant in the context of India’s recent history in men’s javelin.

The event has become one of the country’s strongest athletics disciplines over the past decade, largely driven by Neeraj Chopra.

Chopra won India’s first Asian Games gold in men’s javelin at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, throwing a then-national record of 88.06m.

Before his victory, India’s previous Asian Games medal in the event had come in 1982. Gurtej Singh won bronze in New Delhi.

Chopra successfully defended his title at Hangzhou in 2023, winning gold. Kishore Jena took silver, giving India a one-two finish.

Yashvir Continues His Strong Season

Neeraj Chopra was absent from the Nagoya Asian Games after an ankle ligament injury ruled him out.

That left Yashvir and Rohit to lead India’s challenge. Both athletes responded with podium finishes.

Yashvir’s silver continued a remarkable season for the 25-year-old.

He had already won bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, producing a then-personal best of 85.41m with his final throw. That competition featured a podium alongside Chopra and Pathirage.

In Nagoya, Yashvir improved his personal best to 85.72m, moving from Commonwealth Games bronze to Asian Games silver.

Rohit Yadav Adds Another Major Medal

For Rohit, the bronze medal adds another major championship achievement to his season.

The Athletics Federation of India lists his 2026 season best at 87.68m. Meanwhile, Yashvir entered the Asian Games with an 85.41m best.

Rohit’s performance in Nagoya was built on consistency, with four valid throws exceeding 82 metres.

Men’s Javelin Final Standings

Position

Athlete

Country

Distance

Gold

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage

Sri Lanka

88.55m

Silver

Yashvir Singh

India

85.72m (PB)

Bronze

Rohit Yadav

India

84.35m

India Wins Two Javelin Medals in Nagoya

India leaves the Asian Games with two medals in men’s javelin, maintaining its presence at the top of the event despite the absence of its reigning champion.

For Yashvir, it was a debut silver and a new personal best. For Rohit, it was a bronze built on consistency.

Two Indian athletes, two medals, and another strong showing for Indian javelin.

Yashvir Singh wins silver and Rohit Yadav wins bronze in the men's javelin throw at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya.

India’s Murali Sreeshankar won silver in the men’s long jump at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. He recorded a best jump of 8.07 metres, finishing just 10 centimetres behind gold medallist Shi Yuhao of China, who jumped 8.17m.

The medal marked another major achievement in Sreeshankar’s career. It also capped a remarkable comeback after a serious knee injury kept him away from competition for almost two years.

Murali Sreeshankar Wins Silver in a Closely Contested Final

Sreeshankar entered the final as a genuine medal contender. He had qualified comfortably with a jump of 7.84m, finishing second overall in the qualification round.

His breakthrough in the final came in the third round. He produced a jump of 8.07m to move into second place.

The standings were tight at that stage:

  • Shi Yuhao (China): 8.17m

  • Murali Sreeshankar (India): 8.07m

  • Anvarov (Uzbekistan): 8.03m

Sreeshankar was just 10 centimetres behind gold and four centimetres ahead of third place.

Rain and a Dramatic Fall Complicate the Final

Rain made conditions difficult during the competition. The wet runway complicated the athletes’ approaches and take-offs.

Sreeshankar has previously spoken about the importance of runway conditions in long jump. Consistent speed and a controlled take-off are crucial for producing a strong jump.

The difficult conditions also contributed to a dramatic moment later in the final. Sreeshankar suffered a heavy fall during one of his attempts.

The fall brought an abrupt end to his strong medal challenge. It was particularly concerning given the serious knee injury he had overcome.

However, his 8.07m effort remained enough to secure silver.

China’s Shi Yuhao retained the lead with 8.17m. Uzbekistan’s Anvarov finished third with 8.03m.

A Second Consecutive Asian Games Silver

The Nagoya medal was Sreeshankar’s second consecutive Asian Games silver. He had also finished second at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

His latest result once again placed him among Asia’s leading long jumpers. However, the gap between gold and silver was just 10 centimetres, while the difference between silver and bronze was only four centimetres.

Murali Sreeshankar’s Comeback From a Serious Knee Injury

Sreeshankar’s journey to the podium makes the medal even more significant.

In April 2024, he suffered a complete rupture of his left patellar tendon during a training session in Palakkad. The injury required surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

He missed the Paris Olympics and spent almost two years away from competition. During that period, there were serious doubts about whether he could return to elite long jumping.

His comeback in 2026, however, was emphatic.

At the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June, Sreeshankar produced a massive 8.38m jump.

He then won silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a jump of 8.09m, finishing behind Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle.

The medal was his second consecutive Commonwealth Games silver, following his runner-up finish in Birmingham in 2022.

Sreeshankar’s Personal Best and National Record

Sreeshankar’s personal best remains 8.41m, achieved in 2023. India’s national record in the men’s long jump stands at 8.42m.

Although his 8.07m jump in Nagoya was below those marks, its significance extended beyond the distance.

It secured another Asian Games silver after a career-threatening injury. It also placed him within 10 centimetres of gold in a final affected by rain and difficult conditions.

Murali Sreeshankar’s Asian Games 2026 Result

Position

Athlete

Country

Distance

Gold

Shi Yuhao

China

8.17m

Silver

Murali Sreeshankar

India

8.07m

Bronze

Anvarov

Uzbekistan

8.03m

Sreeshankar’s return to the podium marks another milestone in his recovery. After nearly two years away from competition, he is once again among Asia’s leading long jumpers.

The gold medal escaped him in Nagoya, but Murali Sreeshankar leaves Japan with another Asian Games silver and a remarkable comeback behind him.

Murali Sreeshankar wins silver in the men's long jump at the Asian Games 2026 with an 8.07m jump.

India’s Seema Kaliramana finished fourth in the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. She produced a personal best of 59.88 metres but narrowly missed out on a medal.

Seema improved as the competition progressed and saved her best effort for the fifth round. Despite her career-best throw, she finished behind three athletes who all crossed the 61-metre mark.

Seema Kaliramana Sets Personal Best of 59.88m

Seema delivered a consistent series throughout the final. Her best effort came in the fifth round, when she threw 59.88m.

Her complete series was:

53.67m, 58.40m, 58.18m, 56.89m, 59.88m and 59.81m.

The 59.88m throw improved on her previous personal best of 59.73m, set at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June.

Her performance briefly brought her into medal contention. However, she ultimately finished 1.55 metres short of the bronze-medal mark.

Feng Bin Wins Gold in Women’s Discus Throw

China’s Feng Bin won gold with a throw of 63.69m.

Her compatriot Jiang Zhichao secured silver with 62.25m. Thailand’s Subenrat Insaeng completed the podium with a bronze-winning effort of 61.43m.

All three medallists crossed the 61-metre mark, highlighting the competitive standard of the final.

Sanya Yadav Finishes Eighth in Asian Games Debut

India also had Sanya Yadav competing in the women’s discus final. Making her first appearance in an Asian Games final, she finished eighth with a best throw of 49.90m.

Sanya qualified after a strong domestic season. She recorded a personal best and season best of 56.05m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.

She also finished second behind Seema at the same competition. Sanya threw 56.05m, while Seema recorded 59.73m. Both marks met the Asian Games qualification standard.

India Finishes Without a Medal in Women’s Discus

India ended the women’s discus throw final without a medal. Seema finished fourth, while Sanya placed eighth.

Although Seema missed the podium, her personal best of 59.88m marked a significant improvement. She also recorded two throws above 59 metres in her final two attempts.

Her performance demonstrated the level required to challenge for a medal at the continental event. However, the three athletes ahead of her produced throws beyond 61 metres.

For Seema, the final brought a career-best performance and a fourth-place finish in a highly competitive Asian Games field.

Seema Kaliramna Indian discus thrower

India’s Sarvesh Anil Kushare won the silver medal in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.

Kushare cleared 2.25 metres to secure a place on the podium. He missed out on gold after a countback in a closely contested competition.

Sarvesh Kushare Delivers Consistent Performance

Kushare produced a consistent performance throughout the final. He cleared every height up to 2.22m on his first attempt.

He then cleared 2.25m on his second attempt. However, the countback decided the final medal positions, leaving him with silver.

The result adds another major continental medal to Kushare’s growing collection of achievements.

From Humble Beginnings to Commonwealth History

Kushare’s latest podium finish builds on a remarkable period in his career. Earlier in the season, he made history at the Commonwealth Games.

He became the first Indian to win silver in the men’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games, clearing 2.25m in a closely contested final.

Sarvesh Kushare’s Journey From Devargaon to the International Stage

The 31-year-old athlete hails from Devargaon in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. He grew up in a farming family, with his father working as an onion farmer.

Kushare began training without access to professional sports infrastructure. In his early years, he had no landing mats for high jump practice.

His schoolteacher and father improvised a landing pit using corn husks, agricultural waste and discarded cotton. This helped him continue training despite limited resources.

Indian Army Support and International Success

Kushare joined the Indian Army in 2016. The move provided him with structured support and access to professional training.

He later broke national records and cleared the 2.30m barrier. He also competed at major international events, including the World Championships and Diamond League.

His Asian Games silver adds another milestone to his career. It also highlights his journey from a village in Maharashtra to the international athletics stage.

Sarvesh Anil Kushare competing in the men's high jump at the Asian Games

India enjoyed a memorable evening in the women’s long jump final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Ancy Sojan Edappilly won the silver medal, while compatriot Shaili Singh narrowly missed the podium.

Ancy delivered a strong performance throughout the competition. Meanwhile, Shaili fought hard for a medal but finished fourth after a tense battle in the closing rounds.

Ancy Sojan Wins Silver After Late Gold Medal Heartbreak

Ancy Sojan Edappilly added another Asian Games silver medal to her collection. She had also won silver in the previous edition of the Games.

The Indian long jumper took the lead in the opening round and maintained her position at the top for much of the competition.

She later produced a brilliant jump of 6.53 metres to extend her lead. For much of the final, Ancy appeared on course to win gold.

However, China’s Huang Yingying produced a decisive effort in her final attempt. She jumped 6.55 metres to snatch the gold medal by just 2 centimetres.

Ancy finished with silver at 6.53 metres. China’s Tan Mengyi secured bronze with a jump of 6.46 metres.

Despite narrowly missing gold, Ancy once again demonstrated her consistency at the continental level.

Shaili Singh Finishes Fourth After Late Medal Battle

Shaili Singh also delivered a determined performance in the women’s long jump final. She fought her way into medal contention during the middle rounds.

After a challenging start, Shaili produced a jump of 6.41 metres in Round 4. She then improved her mark to 6.42 metres in Round 5.

Her performance briefly placed her in the medal positions. With one round remaining, she was firmly in contention for a podium finish.

However, a late surge from her rivals pushed Shaili down to fourth place. She finished with a best jump of 6.42 metres, narrowly missing out on a medal.

Although the result brought disappointment, her performance highlighted her ability to compete against Asia’s leading long jumpers.

Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh Deliver for Indian Athletics

The women’s long jump final brought both celebration and disappointment for India.

Ancy Sojan secured a silver medal and continued her impressive record at the Asian Games. Meanwhile, Shaili Singh came close to joining her on the podium.

Their performances highlighted India’s strength in the women’s long jump and added another memorable chapter to the country’s athletics campaign.

Ancy Sojan wins silver in the women's long jump at the 2026 Asian Games

Nagoya: Tajinderpal Singh Toor had to wait until his fifth attempt to make his mark. The defending Asian Games champion then produced a throw of 20.64m to win silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Toor was in third place after four rounds. However, his fifth throw moved him into second, just 17 centimetres short of gold.

The silver also secured his third consecutive Asian Games medal, adding another achievement to the career of one of India’s most decorated field athletes.

Toor Delivers When It Matters Most

For Toor, the medal was about more than another podium finish.

Questions had surrounded his selection and fitness ahead of the Games. He had also faced public accusations of faking injuries. Those claims were contested, but they added to the attention surrounding the 31-year-old in the build-up to Nagoya.

Once the competition began, Toor had the opportunity to respond through his performance.

He did so with a throw of 20.64m.

His series showed a difficult start, with throws of 20.06m, 20.26m, 19.77m and 19.71m in the first four rounds.

However, with the podium still within reach, he produced his best effort on the fifth attempt. His final throw was a foul.

The fifth-round effort proved decisive in securing silver.

Third Consecutive Asian Games Medal

Toor has now won medals at three successive editions of the Asian Games.

He claimed gold in Jakarta in 2018 and defended his title in Hangzhou in 2022. He has now added silver in Nagoya.

The result highlights his consistency at the continental level. He has remained among Asia’s leading shot putters for nearly a decade.

Although he could not secure a third consecutive gold, the silver extends his impressive record at the Games.

From a Village in Punjab to Asian Games Champion

Toor’s journey began in Khosa Pando village in Moga, Punjab, where he grew up in a farming family.

He initially wanted to become a cricketer. However, his father encouraged him to take up shot put.

Toor later joined the Indian Navy through its sports quota and built his career around the event.

His first major international breakthrough came in 2017, when he won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

A year later, he delivered the performance that established him as one of India’s leading throwers.

The 2018 Asian Games Gold That Changed His Career

At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Toor threw 20.75m to win gold.

The performance also broke both the Asian Games and Indian national records. It was India’s first athletics gold medal at those Games.

The victory came after a disappointing eighth-place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

His response in Jakarta marked a major turning point in his career.

Toor went on to win the Asian Championships title in 2019. He also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after producing a massive 21.49m throw in 2021, which set national and Asian records at the time.

Setbacks, Comebacks and a National Record

Toor’s career has also included difficult moments.

At the Tokyo Olympics, he competed with a heavily bandaged shoulder but failed to reach the final.

However, he returned to the top in the years that followed.

He won gold medals at the Asian Indoor and Asian Championships before retaining his Asian Games title in Hangzhou.

His current national record stands at 21.77m, set in 2023.

That mark reflects the level he has reached during his career. In Nagoya, however, his immediate goal was not to break the national record. It was to secure a place on the podium.

Fifth-Round Throw Secures Silver in Nagoya

For four rounds, a medal remained uncertain.

Then came the fifth attempt.

20.64m. Silver.

It was not the gold Toor had won at the previous two Asian Games. Nevertheless, the result extended one of the most impressive medal runs in Indian athletics.

After facing questions ahead of the competition, Toor delivered his response on the throwing circle.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor has secured his third consecutive Asian Games medal, adding a silver in Nagoya to his two previous golds.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor competing in the men's shot put at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.