Indian athletics created history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Yashas Palaksha and T. Santhosh both qualified for the men’s 400m hurdles final, marking the first time that two Indian athletes have reached the event final at the Commonwealth Games.

Both hurdlers produced composed performances in the semifinals to secure their places in the medal race. T. Santhosh clocked 49.51s, while Yashas Palaksha followed closely with 49.65s, ensuring India will have two representatives in one of the Games’ most competitive track events.

Although neither athlete matched the personal bests they set in their previous competition, both did enough to progress comfortably to the championship final. Yashas enters the final with a lifetime best of 49.00s, the second-fastest performance in Indian history, while Santhosh owns a personal best of 49.06s, making him India’s third-fastest 400m hurdler of all time.

The qualification of both athletes reflects the rapid rise of Indian men’s 400m hurdles in recent years. Their breakthrough performances this season have elevated them into the country’s all-time rankings, and they have now translated that form onto one of the biggest stages in international athletics.

The achievement is particularly significant as this is the first time in Commonwealth Games history that India will have two athletes competing in the men’s 400m hurdles final. It highlights the growing depth in the event and underlines the progress made by Indian quarter-milers and hurdlers on the international circuit.

With their places in the final secured, both Yashas and Santhosh will now shift their focus to the medal race. Armed with lifetime bests below 49.10 seconds and the confidence of reaching a historic final together, the Indian duo will be aiming to produce their best performances when they return to the track.

The historic qualification adds another memorable chapter to India’s athletics campaign in Glasgow and provides fresh optimism ahead of the men’s 400m hurdles final.

Indian hurdler Tejas Ashok Shirse booked his place in the men’s 110m hurdles final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, finishing third in Heat 1 with a time of 13.76 seconds.

Shirse came into the competition as one of the favourites in his heat, having entered the Games with a season’s best and personal best of 13.27 seconds, the fastest mark among all eight athletes in his race.

Drawn in Lane 7, the Indian lined up against a competitive field featuring Jeremie Lararaudeuse of Mauritius (SB 13.43/PB 13.31), Jerome Campbell of Jamaica (SB 13.33/PB 13.23), Samuel Bennett of England (SB/PB 13.41), Roshan Dhammika Ranatunge of Sri Lanka (13.73), Khalilan Vitalis of Saint Lucia (13.59), Robert Oa of Papua New Guinea (14.40) and Errol Bernard Qaqa of Fiji (PB 14.79).

Under the qualification rules, the top three finishers from each of the two heats earned automatic qualification for the final, with the next two fastest athletes overall also advancing on time. Shirse ensured there was no need to rely on the time qualifiers, securing one of the three automatic qualifying spots by finishing third.

Although well outside his season’s best of 13.27 seconds, the primary objective was qualification, and the Indian hurdler successfully progressed to the medal race.

Shirse will now look to improve on his semifinal performance and challenge for a podium finish when the Commonwealth Games men’s 110m hurdles final takes place later in Glasgow.

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India will field an exciting duo in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Yashas Palaksha and T. Santhosh carrying the nation’s hopes in one of the most competitive track events in Glasgow.

Both athletes have enjoyed breakthrough seasons in 2026, producing career-best performances that have elevated them into the upper ranks of Commonwealth contenders. Yashas Palaksha has clocked a lifetime best of 49.00s, while T. Santhosh has followed closely with 49.06s. These performances rank as India’s second-fastest and third-fastest men’s 400m hurdles times of all time, underlining the rapid progress made by the pair.

Among athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games, Yashas is ranked 10th this season, while Santhosh occupies 12th position. The season rankings are headed by Assinie Wilson of Jamaica with 48.29s, followed by Kemorena Tisang of Botswana at 48.32s, Dennick Luke of Great Britain with 48.37s, and Australia’s Jake Minshull, who has recorded 48.53s. Great Britain’s Seamus Derbyshire (48.71s) and Kenya’s Kipkorir Rotich (48.99s) are also among the leading contenders heading into the Games.

Although the competition promises to be fierce, India’s representatives have shown consistent improvement throughout the season. Their ability to break the 49.10-second barrier reflects the growing standard of Indian men’s 400m hurdles and provides optimism ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The inclusion of only athletes who have been officially selected by their respective countries offers a realistic picture of the field that will compete in Glasgow. Within that group, both Yashas and Santhosh have established themselves as capable finalists with the potential to challenge the leading athletes.

As they prepare for the biggest competition of their season, Yashas Palaksha and T. Santhosh will look to build on their breakthrough campaigns and translate their career-best performances into success on the Commonwealth stage.

India’s Shravani Sangle continued her impressive run at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, winning the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles in Ordos, China with a lifetime best of 58.09s.

The 20-year-old produced an excellent race to finish third, lowering her personal best in the process and adding another medal to India’s growing tally at the continental championships. Competing against a strong field of Asia’s leading U23 hurdlers, Shravani maintained her rhythm throughout the race before finishing strongly to secure a well-deserved place on the podium.

The bronze medal capped a memorable campaign for the young Indian athlete, who had already played a pivotal role in India’s triumph in the Mixed 4x400m Relay earlier in the championships. Running the anchor leg, Shravani delivered a sensational performance, overtaking the Chinese runner in the closing stages to seal the gold medal for India in dramatic fashion.

With her latest success in the individual event, Shravani concludes the championships with an impressive two-medal haul—a gold medal in the Mixed 4x400m Relay and a bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Her lifetime-best performance of 58.09s also highlights the steady progress she has made this season. Producing a personal best in a championship final reflects both her composure under pressure and her continued development as one of India’s promising young quarter-milers and hurdlers.

The Asian U23 Athletics Championships have provided an ideal platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent, and Shravani made full use of the opportunity with outstanding performances in both relay and individual competition.

Ending the championships with two medals and a new personal best, Shravani Sangle has firmly established herself as one of India’s standout performers in Ordos. Her performances not only contributed significantly to India’s medal tally but also underline her potential as she looks ahead to future senior international competitions.

The men’s 400m hurdles final at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026 produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the competition, as Palaksha Yashas and T. Santhosh crossed the finish line together in a breathtaking photo finish.

After a fiercely contested race, both athletes were credited with an identical time of *49.14 seconds*, underlining just how evenly matched they were over the full lap of hurdles. The razor-thin margin made for one of the highlights of the championships, with the winner determined only after the photo finish was reviewed.

The result carried even greater significance as *both Yashas and Santhosh comfortably breached the Asian Games qualification standard*, sealing their places for the continental showpiece with outstanding performances.

The race showcased the growing quality and depth in Indian men’s 400m hurdles, with two athletes pushing each other to exceptional times under pressure. Their head-to-head battle not only entertained the crowd but also demonstrated the rising standards in an event that has become one of India’s strongest on the track.

With both Palaksha Yashas and T. Santhosh securing qualification, India will head into the Asian Games with multiple contenders capable of competing at the highest level. Their thrilling duel at the Interstate Championships will be remembered as one of the standout races of the meet and a major boost for Indian athletics.

Vithya Ramraj delivered yet another statement performance at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, storming to victory in the women’s 400m hurdles with a superb time of 56.07 seconds. The Tamil Nadu athlete looked in complete control throughout the race, comfortably taking the gold medal while reinforcing her status as one of India’s premier quarter-milers over hurdles.

Kerala’s Anu R produced an equally impressive run to finish second, ensuring a thrilling one-two finish. More importantly, both athletes went well under the Asian Games qualifying standard of 57.21 seconds, securing their qualification with plenty to spare.

For Vithya, the performance continues her consistent run of form on the national circuit. The experienced hurdler has been India’s leading name in the event over the past few seasons and once again showcased her ability to deliver when it matters most.

Anu R’s breakthrough performance is equally significant. Going comfortably below the qualification mark highlights the growing strength of Indian women’s 400m hurdles, with multiple athletes now capable of competing at the continental level.

With both Vithya Ramraj and Anu R booking their places for the Asian Games, India heads into the international season with encouraging depth in one of its strongest track events. Their performances at the Interstate Championships underline the steady rise of the women’s 400m hurdles and provide optimism for the challenges ahead.

India’s leading 400m hurdler Vithya Ramraj made a strong statement at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 by achieving the Asian Games qualification standard during the heats of the women’s 400m hurdles.

The joint national record holder, who shares the national mark with legendary sprinter PT Usha, clocked 56.61s to comfortably secure qualification for the upcoming Asian Games. Her performance was the fastest across both heats, ensuring that she advanced to the final as the top qualifier.

Known for her consistency on the national circuit, Vithya once again demonstrated why she remains India’s leading contender in the event. Running with control and confidence, she produced a performance that not only met the qualification standard but also highlighted her readiness for the championship final.

The qualification adds another important milestone to Vithya’s season as she continues to build momentum ahead of major international competitions. By registering the quickest time of the preliminary rounds, she has positioned herself as the athlete to beat in the final and reinforced her credentials as one of India’s most reliable performers in the 400m hurdles.

Vithya’s success also reflects her ability to consistently deliver on the big stage. Having already established herself as one of the country’s finest quarter-milers over the hurdles, her latest performance further strengthens India’s prospects in the event as preparations continue for the Asian Games.

The Interstate Championships have served as an important platform for athletes chasing qualification standards, and Vithya capitalised on the opportunity with a composed run in the heats. Her ability to secure qualification while conserving enough energy for the final speaks to her experience and race management.

With the Asian Games qualification now secured and the fastest qualifying time to her name, Vithya Ramraj will return to the track for the women’s 400m hurdles final looking to add the national title to an already impressive performance at the championships.