A breakthrough performance lit up the Indian Series-3 meet as Pariksha from Haryana etched her name into the spotlight.

In one of the most exciting moments of the competition, Pariksha breached the prestigious 6-metre mark for the very first time in her career. She delivered a stunning leap of 6.10 metres, marking a new lifetime best and securing a remarkable second-place finish.

What made this achievement even more impressive was the level of competition. Pariksha outperformed Mubassina Mohammed — India’s U23 champion and a South Asian Athletics Federation medallist — who had to settle for third place on the day.

Behind this rising star is a strong coaching setup. Pariksha trains under Sazid Husain, a retired Navy officer known for mentoring elite talent. He is also the father and coach of Mohd. Atta Sazid, one of India’s most promising young jumpers.

And it turned out to be a memorable day for the entire training group.

On the same day, Mohd. Atta Sazid delivered a standout performance of his own, registering a personal best of 7.86 metres to clinch the top position. Impressively, the jump came under a -1.9 m/s headwind, highlighting the exceptional quality and strength behind the effort.

With both athletes hitting personal milestones, this competition not only showcased emerging talent but also signaled a bright future for Indian long jump on the international stage.

Niharika Vashisht didn’t ease into her season—she made a statement.

At the Indian Athletics Series–3 in New Delhi, she won the women’s triple jump with a best effort of 13.41m, breaching the Asian Games qualification mark in her very first competition of the year. In a field where she was the only athlete to go beyond 13 metres, the gap was clear.

What stood out even more was how she did it. Vashisht competed with just a 10-stride approach, a controlled setup that still produced distance and consistency across the series.

Her progression through the rounds reflected that control: 12.84m to open, a foul, then 13.29m and 13.25m to settle into rhythm before peaking at 13.41m. Another foul closed out the series, but by then, the job was done.

Early-season meets are often about finding timing. Vashisht, instead, found a mark that matters.

At the Indian Athletics Series–3, she rose above the bar and the moment, delivering a performance that now places her among Asia’s top U20 high jumpers. But to understand this leap, you have to look back. Just months ago, she was returning from an ankle injury, using the Khelo India University Games 2025 as a reset point. There, she cleared 1.77m to win gold and break the meet record in her first competition back.

Earlier in the year, she had already made history—winning gold at the Asian Championships with a personal best of 1.89m, becoming only the second Indian woman to do so

Now, with 1.87m, 1.89m, and 1.90m in quick succession, the progression is clear.

And behind it all, moments like these—the quiet support, the sacrifices, the small gestures—are what carry her forward.

The race itself unfolded in phases. Gurindervir Singh was quickest out of the blocks, powering through the first 40 metres and setting the early pace. But the field began to close in, and Kujur responded with a well-timed surge through the latter half of the race.

Right alongside him was S. Tamilarasu, who stayed within touching distance, breathing down Kujur’s shoulder all the way to the finish. Both athletes were clocked at 10.28s, underlining just how close the contest was, with Kujur edging ahead for the win.

Gurindervir, after his fast start, settled for third in 10.40s.

Hima Das Returns, Finishes Fourth in Subdued 200m Run

Hima Das, with a poor 25.42s, finished fourth in the women’s 200m Race D at the Indian Athletics Series 3 in New Delhi, marking a subdued return to competition.

The 26-year-old last competed at the National Inter-State Championships in June 2024 and has been away from racing since, following a period where her 2024 results were disqualified. This outing, then, was less about outcome and more about stepping back into competitive rhythm.

She is entered in both the 200m and 400m events, where the field included Sri Jyothika Dandi, Aishwarya Mishra, and veteran quarter-miler MR Poovamma—names that ensure a high level of competition.

It wasn’t the kind of afternoon the women’s long jump field would have been hoping for.

At the Indian Athletics Series – 3 in New Delhi, Asian Championships medallist Shaili Singh topped the standings, but the numbers told a quieter story. Her best jump of 6.24m was enough for first place, yet well below the 6.54m she managed at the previous meet in the series.

This was only her second competition of the season, and while early outings are often about finding rhythm, the overall standard remained modest.

Pariksha finished second with a jump of 6.10m, while Mubassina Mohammed was close behind at 6.05m. The margins were tight, but the distances suggested a field still searching for form rather than pushing boundaries.

For Shaili, the result keeps her at the top, but the expectation around her will be higher as the season progresses. For the rest, the gap remains bridgeable—but only if the numbers begin to move.

The first race of the season is rarely about perfection. It’s about signals.

In Race A of the men’s 110m hurdles at the Indian Athletics Series – 3 in New Delhi, Harmanjeet Singh’s signal was clear. He opened his season with a controlled 14.45s, enough to take the win and set an early marker.

There was no rush, no overreach—just a clean race, executed with the kind of composure that tends to matter more in April than outright speed. For a hurdler, especially, rhythm is everything. On this evidence, Harmanjeet looks settled.

Behind him, Shivdarsha finished in 14.86s, while Vikash Kumar followed closely at 14.93s. The margins weren’t wide, but the race never quite felt in doubt.

Season openers can be deceptive. Times improve, races get sharper. But they also reveal where an athlete is starting from.

For Harmanjeet, this was a steady beginning—and perhaps, the outline of what’s to come.

Shailesh Kushwaha delivered a personal best performance to win the men’s 10,000m at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi.

He clocked 30:01.08 in his first race over the distance since 2024, timing his effort well to take control in the closing stages.

Kartik Karkera finished second in 30:08.09.

Primarily a marathon runner, this race was part of his off-season training block.

Vinod Singh secured third place in 30:09.62, as the race saw a closely packed finish among the top three.

Kartik Karkera delivered a strong performance at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi, winning the men’s 10,000m (Race A) with a personal best time of 30:08.09.

This was only his second appearance in the 10,000m, having last competed in the event in 2018.

Earlier this season, Kartik had won gold at the New Delhi Marathon, clocking 2:13:10 — a personal best that also took him past the Asian Games qualification mark.

With that performance, he moved to third on India’s all-time marathon list, with only a few Indian athletes having gone under the 2:14 mark.

Notably, Kartik had described this 10,000m race as part of his off-season training, making the result a significant outcome in a non-primary event.