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.
Despite a dramatic race interrupted by three false starts and repeated delays, Tejas Shirse held his composure to claim the men’s 110m hurdles title at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026.
The Indian national record holder crossed the line first in 13.61s, comfortably achieving the Asian Games qualification standard and confirming his place for the 2026 Games.
The race, however, was far from straightforward. Three false starts created chaos before the athletes finally got away cleanly, but Shirse remained unfazed, once again demonstrating the consistency that has made him India’s premier sprint hurdler. Earlier this season, he rewrote the national record with a sensational 13.27s, making his qualification at the Interstates widely expected.
Behind him, Manav R produced an outstanding performance to finish second in 13.66s, missing the Asian Games qualification mark by the narrowest of margins—just 0.03 seconds. It was a heartbreaking result after a career-best run that showed he is closing in on the country’s elite.
M Krishik completed a tightly contested podium, finishing third in 13.69s, just 0.08 seconds behind the winner.
With the victory, Shirse adds the Interstate title to his growing list of achievements and heads towards the Asian Games as India’s strongest medal prospect in the men’s 110m hurdles. His ability to stay calm amid the confusion before the start only reinforced why he remains the country’s benchmark in the event.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has shortlisted 68 probable athletes for a high-performance training camp in Spala, Poland, as preparations gather pace for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Nagoya.
According to sources, the final squad for the overseas camp will be confirmed by 30 June, following the conclusion of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships and the finalisation of India’s Asian Games contingent.
The camp is expected to bring together India’s leading athletes across track and field disciplines for an intensive training block before the country’s two biggest multi-sport events of the year.
Why Spala?
For decades, Spala has been regarded as one of Europe’s premier athletics training destinations. Home to the renowned National Centre for Sports Training, the Polish town has hosted Olympic champions, World Championship medallists and elite athletes from across Europe and beyond.
The facility is equipped with world-class infrastructure, including a six-lane indoor track, outdoor athletics stadium, specialised throws and jumps areas, strength and conditioning centres, sports science laboratories and recovery facilities. The campus also offers residential accommodation, allowing athletes, coaches and support staff to train together in a high-performance environment.
Spala’s relatively quiet surroundings and cool summer weather make it particularly attractive for endurance, sprint and field-event athletes looking to maximise training quality while escaping the heat and humidity that prevail in much of Asia during this period.
Indian athletes have trained in Spala on several occasions over the past decade, with the venue becoming a preferred overseas base before major international championships. The centre’s sports science support, physiotherapy services and competition-quality facilities have made it one of the most sought-after preparation hubs in Europe.
Final Selection After Inter-State Championships
The ongoing Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar have assumed added significance, serving not only as India’s premier domestic competition but also as the final opportunity for athletes to achieve qualification standards and impress selectors ahead of the international season.
Several athletes have already secured the Asian Games qualification mark during the championships, while others remain locked in close contests for places in the national squad.
Sources indicated that the final list of athletes travelling to Poland will be finalised once performances at the Inter-State Championships have been assessed and the Athletics Federation of India completes its selection process for the Asian Games.
With both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games scheduled later this year, the Spala camp is expected to play a crucial role in India’s medal preparations, giving athletes an uninterrupted block of high-quality training before the international season reaches its peak.
India’s national record holder in the men’s 800m, Mohammed Afsal, added another significant achievement to his résumé by winning the men’s 800m title at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026.
Afsal produced a composed and tactical performance in the final, crossing the finish line in 1:48.57s to secure the gold medal and achieve the qualification standard for the upcoming Asian Games. His victory reaffirmed his status as one of the country’s leading middle-distance runners and highlighted his consistency at the national level.
The race also featured a strong challenge from Krishan Kumar, who claimed the silver medal in 1:48.82s. Despite an impressive effort in the final, Krishan narrowly missed the Asian Games qualification mark by just 0.02 seconds, making it one of the closest qualification battles of the championships.
However, Krishan remains firmly in contention for selection after delivering an outstanding performance in the heats. Earlier in the competition, he clocked 1:47.57s, a time that was well within the qualification standard and demonstrated his capability to compete at the required level.
The men’s 800m competition once again showcased the depth of Indian middle-distance running, with two of the country’s top athletes producing high-quality performances across multiple rounds. While Afsal successfully secured both the national title and qualification, Krishan’s strong showing throughout the championships ensures that the selection discussion for major international competitions remains highly competitive.
Afsal’s victory marks another important step in his season as he looks ahead to future international assignments. Winning the national title while meeting the qualification standard provides a timely boost and reinforces his position among India’s leading prospects in middle-distance athletics.
With the championships continuing to produce strong performances across disciplines, the men’s 800m final stood out as one of the most competitive and closely contested races of the meet, highlighted by Afsal’s title-winning run and Krishan Kumar’s determined challenge.
The women’s 200m event at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026 produced one of the standout sprint performances of the competition as the top three finishers all dipped below the Asian Games qualification standard.
Representing Maharashtra, Harita Bhadra stole the spotlight with a sensational run of 23.14 seconds to clinch the gold medal and emerge as the Interstate champion. The performance marked a huge personal best for the talented sprinter and elevated her to ninth place on India’s all-time women’s 200m list.
Her remarkable achievement also secured qualification for the Asian Games 2026, adding another major milestone to what has already been a breakthrough season. Bhadra has been one of the country’s most promising sprint talents in recent years and earlier this season won the women’s 60m title at the National Indoor Athletics Championships.
Karnataka’s Unnathi Bollanda continued her consistent rise in Indian sprinting by finishing second in 23.40 seconds, comfortably inside the Asian Games qualification mark. One of the country’s leading young quarter-milers and sprinters, Unnathi has steadily improved across the sprint events and once again demonstrated her ability to deliver on the big stage.
Third place went to Prakurthi, who clocked 23.58 seconds to complete a memorable race where all three medalists achieved the qualification standard. Her performance underlined the growing depth in Indian women’s sprinting and ensured she too remained firmly in contention for major international selection.
The race highlights the significant progress being made in Indian women’s sprinting, with multiple athletes now capable of producing Asian-level performances. With Harita, Unnathi and Prakurthi all achieving the required standard, selectors will have plenty to consider as India begins shaping its sprint squad for the Asian Games 2026.
Women’s 200m Results
1. Harita Bhadra – 23.14s (PB) – Gold – Asian Games Qualification
2. Unnathi Bollanda – 23.40s – Silver – Asian Games Qualification
3. Prakurthi – 23.58s – Bronze – Asian Games Qualification
The event could prove to be a defining moment for Indian women’s sprinting, with three athletes crossing the qualification mark in a single race and signalling a bright future for the discipline.
India’s national record holder Tejas Shirse made a strong statement at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, clocking 13.43 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles heats to comfortably breach the Asian Games qualification standard and advance to the final as the fastest qualifier.
Shirse’s performance was the quickest across all heats, underlining his status as the country’s premier hurdler and one of India’s strongest medal prospects in the event heading into the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
The qualification mark had been one of the key targets for athletes competing at the Inter-State Championships, the final major domestic opportunity to secure standards for international selection. Shirse achieved that goal with authority, producing a controlled run that saw him comfortably progress to the final while also ticking off the Asian Games requirement.
The Maharashtra hurdler has been on a remarkable upward trajectory over the past two seasons. Earlier this year, he rewrote the Indian record books by becoming the first Indian man to run under 13.50 seconds in the 110m hurdles, setting a new national record and establishing himself among Asia’s elite hurdlers.
His rise has been particularly significant for Indian athletics, where the men’s sprint hurdles has historically lacked the depth and international success enjoyed by some of the country’s field events and distance disciplines. Shirse’s breakthrough performances have changed that narrative, giving India a genuine contender on the continental stage.
At just 23 years of age, the hurdler has consistently improved his technique, speed between hurdles and race execution, transforming himself from a promising talent into a national record holder capable of challenging the best athletes in Asia.
The performance in Bhubaneswar also comes at an important stage of the season. With the Asian Games qualification standard secured, Shirse can now focus on building towards the major championships ahead while fine-tuning his form for international competition.
Although the heats were primarily about securing qualification for the final, Shirse’s time served notice to the rest of the field. No athlete ran faster across the preliminary rounds, making him the overwhelming favourite heading into the medal race.
For now, however, the immediate objective has been achieved.
Fastest in the heats. Asian Games qualification secured. And one step closer to another national title.
India’s sprint sensation Animesh Kujur comfortably booked his place for the Asian Games 2026 after clocking 20.87 seconds in the men’s 200m heats at the ongoing 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026.
The performance saw Kujur go under the Asian Games qualification standard with ease, continuing what has been a remarkable rise for one of India’s most exciting track athletes.
His qualification came as little surprise. Over the past two seasons, Kujur has established himself as India’s premier male sprinter, consistently rewriting national records and pushing Indian sprinting into uncharted territory.
Earlier this year, the Odisha athlete became the first Indian man in history to break the 20.50-second barrier in the 200m, setting a national record of 20.32 seconds. He also holds the national record in the 100m with a time of 10.18 seconds and has played a pivotal role in India’s relay successes on the international stage.
Given his pedigree and recent form, clearing the Asian Games qualification mark was always expected. Even in a controlled heat race, Kujur demonstrated his class, crossing the line in 20.87 seconds and safely securing qualification for the continental showpiece.
With the heats out of the way, attention now turns to the final, where the national record holder will look to add another title to his growing collection and further cement his status as the face of Indian sprinting.
*Result:*
* Animesh Kujur – 20.87s (Asian Games Qualification)
The qualification reinforces Kujur’s position as India’s leading sprint medal prospect heading into the 2026 Asian Games.
Indian sprinting received a major boost at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026 as both Harita Bhadra and Unnathi secured qualification for the Asian Games 2026 in the women’s 200m event during the heats.
Harita Bhadra produced a sensational performance, clocking 23.55 seconds to not only go under the Asian Games qualification standard of 23.70 seconds but also register a huge lifetime best. Her time currently stands as the fastest by an Indian woman this season in the 200m.
Joining her in achieving the qualification mark was Unnathi, who ran 23.65 seconds to finish comfortably inside the required standard. The performance also marked a new personal best for the young sprinter, improving her previous best by 0.01 seconds.
With both athletes breaching the qualification mark in the heats themselves, India now has two women who have met the Asian Games standard in the 200m, highlighting the growing depth in Indian women’s sprinting.
Results (Heats):
* Harita Bhadra – 23.55s (Lifetime Best, Season’s Best by an Indian, Asian Games Qualification)
* Unnathi – 23.65s (Personal Best, Asian Games Qualification)
The Asian Games qualification standard was set at 23.70 seconds, and both sprinters comfortably dipped below the mark to keep their Asian Games dreams firmly on track.
Asian Championships medallist Servin Sebastian emerged victorious in the men’s half marathon race walk at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, clocking 1:31:49 to secure the national title in challenging weather conditions.
Representing one of India’s brightest hopes in race walking, Servin held off a strong challenge from Sachin Bora, who finished second in 1:32:10, while Ningthoukhongja completed the podium with a time of 1:32:24.
Men’s Half Marathon Race Walk Results
Servin Sebastian – 1:31:49
Sachin Bora – 1:32:10
Ningthoukhongja – 1:32:24
The race was conducted under demanding conditions, with humidity levels hovering around 92 percent and temperatures remaining high throughout the morning. Such conditions made it difficult for athletes to maintain pace, particularly in an endurance discipline as physically taxing as race walking.
While none of the athletes managed to achieve the Asian Games qualification standard, the quality of competition remained high, with the leading trio separated by less than a minute.
Servin’s victory further cements his status as one of the country’s leading race walkers. The Kerala athlete enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025 when he won bronze at the Asian Race Walking Championships, becoming one of the few Indian men to secure a continental medal in the discipline. The performance established him as a serious contender for major international championships and strengthened India’s growing reputation in race walking.
Although the Asian Games qualification standard remained out of reach in Bhubaneswar, sources indicate that the top two finishers—Servin Sebastian and Sachin Bora—could still come under consideration for selection, given their credentials and previous performances.
However, qualification standards are only one part of the selection process. The final composition of the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games will be decided by the Athletics Federation of India’s Selection Committee, which will assess performances across the qualification period before naming the squad.
By Sundeep Misra
It was one of those evenings, June 24th, that came full of surprises, records, underlined by courage, speed, strength, the very idea that to venture out, throwing a line deep into the beyond like a hopeful angler, would not only bring a catch but reward you for sheer persistence and grit.
Otherwise, how would Dev Meena vault 5.46m for a new national record? If you were standing by the pit, watching the fiberglass pole bend against the floodlit sky, you would mutter to yourself, “You don’t coach that final clearance. That is defying gravity.” For pole vaulters around the globe, it’s always about trusting the runway, the grip, and the thousands of hours you spent, watching your surroundings while falling down from across the bar.
How else would Jyothi Yarraji, coming back from the uncertainty of injury, dominate and qualify for the 100m hurdles, possibly finding a fierce new competitive spirit in fellow hurdler Nandhini? In reality, the track doesn’t care about your previous records or even your injuries. It demands rhythm. Stopping the clock at 12.99sec, picking up the Inter-State gold, pocketing the Asian Games spot, along with Nandhini, Yarraji, kept the dream going.
Then came the absolute stunner from the cage. An 18-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh, Anushka Yadav, stepped onto the concrete ring and completely shattered the quiet of the nondescript hammer throw community with a massive national record of 67.02m, booking her flight to Nagoya. “They call us nondescript because no one sees us training in the dust of UP,” her father and coach Sushil Yadav remarked, his voice barely a murmur but thick with raw emotion. Anushka’s throw did more than create a record; when that iron sphere cut through the heavy, humid air, it carried with it the dream of every village academy in the country.
There is nothing quite like track and field with its battle with a clock, trying to hold the sprinting seconds, minutes, and hours in your grasp, the throw filling the humid air ensuring metres stretch themselves out. It is the triumph of not the athlete alone; it is the victory of a Ghanshyam Yadav, an Angel Garcia, of a Sushil Yadav, of a James Hillier – of countless such coaches under the radar or in the spotlight, weaving and creating dreams for their athletes.
In the bargain, they are inching a nation towards track and field domination, fulfilling a promise every country makes to itself: those rust-coloured tracks, white-lined, don’t just look good. They take you to lands beyond, creating self-belief, gifting you a world that only perseverance and a ton of grit could fetch.
In the humid air of Bhubaneswar, known in ancient times as Ekamra (Sacred Earth), when people then ran for fun, or just ran, it is these athletes in the world today, who instil hope in us. On a synthetic track, in a throwing circle, on a sand pit, the Inter-State is not simply just another athletic meet or an Asian Games trial, but a deeper search for identity, hope, and excellence.
It was an evening that gave wings to hope that India could dream and believe that Olympic success might be more than just the trajectory of a single javelin.
