Avinash Sable made his much-awaited return to the 3000m steeplechase at the Indian Athletics Series Final, winning the men’s title in 8:32.39.

It was Sable’s first 3000m steeplechase race in almost a year. The performance marked an important comeback after recovering from a serious injury that kept him away from competition.

His return comes at a crucial point in the season, with the Asian Games 2026 approaching.

Sable Returns to Competition

The Indian national record holder had been sidelined for an extended period following the injury.

He spent the past several months rebuilding his fitness and confidence. The Indian Series Final gave him his first opportunity to test himself competitively after the long layoff.

Sable also brings major Asian Games experience into his comeback. He won the 2023 Asian Games 3000m steeplechase gold.

He will now represent India in the event at the upcoming Asian Games.

Parul Chaudhary Wins Women’s Steeplechase

In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary also secured the title at the Indian Series Final.

She clocked 9:22.49 to win the event.

Parul is set for a busy Asian Games campaign. She will represent India in the 1500m, 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.

Her latest performance adds another competitive outing ahead of the continental championships. She will be aiming to make an impact across all three events.

With Sable and Parul returning to the steeplechase spotlight, the Indian Series Final offered an important final test for two of India’s leading distance runners before the Asian Games.

The Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi produced strong performances in the field events, with Mohd. Sazid Atta breaking the 8m barrier in the men’s long jump and Tajinderpal Singh Toor claiming another shot put title.

Sazid Atta Clears 8m for the First Time

Haryana’s Mohd. Sazid Atta produced a major breakthrough in the men’s long jump, winning the title with a lifetime best of 8.01m.

The jump made him the only athlete in the competition to cross the 8m mark. Karnataka’s Arya S finished second with 7.90m, while Odisha’s Sarun Payasingh took bronze with 7.61m.

The 8.01m effort marks an important milestone for Atta as he enters the 8m club for the first time. The Athletics Federation of India’s official results confirm the podium and distances.

Toor Leads Indian Shot Put Podium

India’s leading shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured the men’s shot put gold with a best throw of 20.64m.

Toor finished comfortably ahead of Samardeep Singh Gill, who took silver with 19.59m. Karanveer Singh secured bronze with 19.51m.

Toor, the defending Asian Games champion, used the Indian Series Final as part of his preparation for the Asian Games 2026.

Both Toor and Karanveer Singh are set to represent India at the Asian Games. The competition gives them an important opportunity to build momentum ahead of the continental event.

The performances added to an eventful Indian Athletics Series Final, which also saw national records broken in both the men’s and women’s hammer throw.

Harita Bhadra produced the biggest 100m performance of her career at the Indian Series Final, winning the women’s title in a stunning 11.22 seconds.

The Maharashtra sprinter’s performance marks a huge improvement on her previous best. According to the result provided, the run moves her to second on the all-time Indian women’s 100m list, behind only the national record.

Harita Bhadra Makes Major 100m Breakthrough

Harita entered the Indian Series Final as one of India’s emerging sprint talents.

Earlier this season, she had already made a major breakthrough in the 100m. She clocked 11.55s at Indian Athletics Series-6 in Chennai.

That performance was then a lifetime best. It also placed her among the leading Indian sprinters of the season.

Her latest 11.22s run now represents another significant step forward.

Strong Progress Over 200m

Bhadra has been even more impressive over 200m.

At the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in June, she won the women’s 200m title in a stunning 23.14s.

The performance was comfortably inside the Asian Games qualification standard of 23.70s.

Her 23.14s run was a huge improvement on her previous personal best of 23.90s. It established her as one of India’s leading women’s 200m runners.

She also became the fastest Indian woman over 200m in 2026 at that point.

Bhadra’s progress has extended across multiple sprint events. She has also recorded 7.32s in the indoor 60m.

Asian Games 2026 Awaits

Bhadra has earned a place in India’s 77-member athletics squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

She has been selected for the women’s 200m and mixed 4x100m relay.

Her 200m form will be particularly important in Nagoya. With a 23.14s personal best and now an 11.22s 100m performance, Bhadra is heading into the Asian Games with significantly improved speed and confidence.

Her season trajectory tells the story clearly: 11.55s in the 100m, 23.14s in the 200m, and now 11.22s over 100m.

Ancy Sojan continued her remarkable 2026 season by winning the women’s long jump title at the Indian Series Final with a best effort of 6.76m.

The mark is the second-best winning performance of her career, behind only the sensational 6.88m she produced earlier this season to rewrite the Indian national record.

Ancy Sojan Continues Record-Breaking Season

Ancy’s 6.88m leap came at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June. She broke Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old national record of 6.83m, set at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

She reached the record mark on her fifth attempt. Earlier in the season, she had recorded a personal best of 6.75m in Ranchi.

Her consistency in 2026 has been particularly impressive.

Before the national-record leap, Ancy had already jumped 6.75m at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, where she won the event.

Her series there included:

6.47m, 6.56m, 6.69m, 6.75m, 6.68m and 6.57m.

From Sprinting to Long Jump

Ancy’s athletic background extends beyond the long jump. She was previously a sprinter before establishing herself as one of India’s leading long jumpers.

Her personal bests include 11.82s in the 100m and 24.24s in the 200m. She has also clocked 45.06s as part of India’s 4x100m relay team.

That sprinting background has become an important asset in her long jump career.

Her coach has highlighted the emphasis placed on improving her speed on the runway during preparations for the 2026 season.

Chasing Gold in Nagoya

Ancy is now set to represent India at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.

She will aim to improve on the silver medal she won at the previous edition.

Her 6.88m national record has established her as one of Asia’s leading long jumpers this season. She has also made no secret of her ambition to challenge for the gold medal in Japan.

Tanya Chaudhary produced the biggest throw of her career at the Indian Series Final, breaking the Indian women’s hammer throw national record with a sensational 68.35m.

The Uttar Pradesh thrower also comfortably cleared the Asian Games qualification standard of 61.72m with her lifetime-best effort.

Tanya Chaudhary Produces Record-Breaking Throw

Tanya’s performance is particularly significant after she narrowly missed the Asian Games qualification standard in her previous competition.

She fell just 2cm short of the mark last time. This time, she responded emphatically, clearing the standard and pushing the national record to a new level.

The previous national record belonged to Anushka Yadav, who threw a historic 67.02m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in June.

Yadav broke the record twice during that competition. She first threw 65.64m before improving it to 67.02m.

Two Uttar Pradesh Athletes Rewrite the Record Book

The women’s hammer throw national record has now been bettered twice this season. Both record-breaking performances have come from athletes representing Uttar Pradesh.

First came 18-year-old Anushka Yadav, who emerged as one of the biggest revelations of the season.

Her 67.02m throw also made her the youngest Indian woman to hold the senior national record in the event.

Now, Tanya Chaudhary has taken the record even further with her 68.35m effort.

Tanya Makes a Major Leap

Tanya has been a consistent presence at the top level of Indian hammer throw.

Before this breakthrough, her personal best stood at 63.91m, recorded in August 2025.

Her latest throw represents a massive improvement on that previous best. It also puts her firmly in the spotlight ahead of the Asian Games 2026.

The record-breaking performance adds another layer to an extraordinary season for Indian women’s hammer throw. Two Uttar Pradesh athletes have repeatedly pushed the event to new heights.

First Anushka. Now Tanya. Uttar Pradesh is rewriting India’s hammer throw record book.

India’s 200m National Record holder Animesh Kujur continued his strong sprinting form by winning the men’s 100m title at the Indian Series Final in 10.21 seconds.

Kujur finished ahead of fellow Asian Games-bound sprinter Gurindervir Singh, who took second in 10.32s.

Kujur and Gurindervir Renew 100m Rivalry

The result adds another chapter to the growing rivalry between the two sprinters. They have repeatedly traded the national record over the past two seasons.

Kujur first emerged as a major 100m force last year. He clocked 10.18s in Vari, Greece, breaking Gurindervir’s then-national record of 10.20s.

The record battle intensified in 2026 at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi.

Gurindervir first lowered Kujur’s record to 10.17s in the semifinals. Just minutes later, Kujur responded with 10.15s to reclaim the national record.

Gurindervir then produced the biggest sprint of his career in the final. His 10.09s made him the first Indian to break the 10.10-second barrier and put the national record back in his hands.

Gurindervir’s Rise in Indian Sprinting

Gurindervir’s rise had begun in 2025 at the Indian Grand Prix 1 in Bengaluru.

He clocked 10.20s, breaking the then-national record of 10.23s.

He had also run 10.32s to win the 100m at the 2024 Inter-State Athletics Championships.

With Kujur winning the Indian Series Final in 10.21s and Gurindervir finishing second in 10.32s, both sprinters continue to headline India’s men’s sprinting scene.

Asian Games 2026 Awaits

Both Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh will represent India at the Asian Games 2026.

Their rivalry will provide one of the most intriguing storylines in Indian athletics at the Games.

Maharashtra’s Aishwarya Mishra won the women’s 400m title at the Indian Series Final, clocking a season-best 52.51 seconds.

Aishwarya held her composure in a closely contested race to take the top spot. Prachi finished second in 52.75s, while Poovamma Raju took third in 52.76s.

Aishwarya Mishra Leads Women’s 400m

The top three finishers were:

The win gives Aishwarya a positive result in her season. Her 52.51s mark is her new season-best performance.

Vishal T K won the men’s 400m title at the Indian Series Final with a strong 45.36-second performance.

The final produced a remarkable display of depth, with six of the eight finalists breaking 46 seconds.

Vishal T K Leads a Fast 400m Final

Vishal topped the field in 45.36s, narrowly finishing ahead of Jay Kumar, who clocked 45.50s. Manu T S took third in 45.68s.

The top six finishers were:

The six sub-46 performances made the men’s 400m final one of the standout races of the Indian Series Final.

Vishal T K Sets Sights on Nagoya

For Vishal, the victory is another step toward bigger ambitions.

The 400m champion has set his sights on winning a medal and breaking the National Record at Nagoya. That gives him an even bigger target to chase in the upcoming competition.

With six athletes going under 46 seconds in the same final, Indian men’s 400m is entering an increasingly competitive phase.

Punjab’s district athletics programme will bring together athletes from U-14 to 70-plus, with events ranging from kids’ javelin to 10,000m race walking.

Athletics in Punjab is set to become more inclusive.

The district-level Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan 2026 competition will feature athletics across nine age groups.

The programme will cater to athletes from under-14 competitors to those aged 70 and above.

The athletics events will be held from September 20 to 30.

The programme includes track events, jumps, throws, hurdles and race walking for both men and women.

U-14 Athletes Begin with Basic Events

For U-14 athletes, the focus will be on shorter and development-focused events.

The programme includes the 60m and 600m, long jump, high jump, shot put and kids’ javelin.

U-17 Programme Expands

The U-17 category features a much wider range of events.

Athletes can compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m.

The field events include long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw.

The category also features hurdles and 3000m race walk.

U-21 Moves Towards Senior Athletics

The U-21 category moves firmly towards senior-style athletics.

The programme ranges from the 100m to 5000m.

It also includes 5000m race walk, jumps, throws and hurdles.

For athletes aged 21-30, the programme becomes even broader.

Men will have the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m, along with the 10,000m race walk.

Women will have races up to the 5000m, along with the 5000m race walk.

Both categories will also feature jumps, throws and hurdles.

Veterans Get Their Own Competition

Athletics does not stop at 30.

The 31-40 category includes sprints, middle-distance races, 5000m race walk, jumps and throws.

The programme then moves into four veteran age groups.

Athletes aged 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and 70-plus can compete in events including the 100m, 400m and 800m, long jump, shot put, javelin and discus.

The implements become lighter in the older categories.

That means a 70-plus athlete could line up for the 100m while an U-14 athlete prepares for the 60m.

Both can compete as part of the same district athletics programme.

Schools, Villages and Academies Can Participate

The competition is open to athletes from schools, villages, registered youth clubs, academies and cities.

Each athlete can compete in only one age group.

They can also enter a maximum of two athletics events.

Talent Identification Included

The programme also has a talent-identification component.

Results and lists of athletes finishing in the top positions in the U-14 and U-17 categories are to be prepared for talent identification.

For Punjab’s athletics ecosystem, the biggest feature may be the sheer breadth of the competition.

Nine age groups. Track, field and race walking. Children, senior athletes and veterans.

The district championships are set to create a competition where athletes across generations can take part in the same athletics programme.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen did not hold back after finishing fourth in the 1500m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

The Olympic champion was furious with how the race unfolded. He accused his rivals of hiding behind the pacemaker and called them a “bunch of cowards” after Australia’s Cameron Myers won the title.

Ingebrigtsen is returning to competition after undergoing Achilles surgery in February.

He had controlled much of the race and appeared to be in contention for victory. However, the Norwegian faded in the final 30 metres as Myers produced a perfectly timed finishing burst.

Myers crossed the line in 3:30.14.

He edged Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech by 0.04 seconds.

American Ethan Strand finished third in 3:30.50, while Ingebrigtsen took fourth in 3:30.52.

For Ingebrigtsen, however, the result was less about the defeat.

It was more about how his opponents had raced.

“They want to run in a queue and hide themselves tonight,” he said after the race.

The Norwegian also criticised the pacemaking.

He said the pacer had pulled him away from the Wavelight and the pace he wanted to maintain.

Ingebrigtsen Questions Hocker’s Tactics

Ingebrigtsen was particularly unhappy with the tactics surrounding American Cole Hocker, who finished eighth.

According to Ingebrigtsen, Hocker’s team had engineered a change in the pacemaking arrangement.

A teammate became involved instead of the French pacer.

The Olympic champion suggested that the move allowed Hocker to sit back and avoid taking responsibility for the pace.

“He fooled all of us,” Ingebrigtsen said.

He argued that Hocker had effectively chosen to hide behind the other runners.

The frustration boiled over when Ingebrigtsen spoke to reporters after the race.

“I’m very disappointed in the race and the result, I’m racing against a bunch of cowards,” he said.

He did, however, make one exception.

“It’s only Cameron [Myers] that’s a good racer,” Ingebrigtsen said.

He also admitted that he had looked like a loser on the night.

Myers Focuses on Timing

While Ingebrigtsen focused on tactics, Myers concentrated on timing.

The 20-year-old Australian stayed patient and resisted the temptation to make an early move.

He waited until the final stretch before launching his attack.

“I contemplated making a move on the back straight but I didn’t really need to, so I just waited as long as possible,” Myers said after the race.

It was another major step in the rapid rise of the Australian.

Myers had already broken the national record earlier in the season.

Now, he has a Diamond League Final title to add to his résumé.

For Ingebrigtsen, Brussels was another test in his comeback from injury.

It was also another reminder that returning to his best will take time.

His explosive post-race comments ensured that the 1500m final became about much more than the result.

The race belonged to Myers.

The headlines, however, belonged to Ingebrigtsen.