The women’s 400m produced one of the standout performances of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, with four Indian quarter-milers breaching the Asian Games qualification standard during the heats in Bhubaneswar.
Veteran sprinter Poovamma Raju led the field, clocking 53.35 seconds, the fastest time across all the heats. Close behind were Kiran Pahal in 53.42s, Aishwarya Mishra in 53.61s, and Rashdeep Kaur in 53.69s, with all four athletes comfortably achieving the qualifying mark for the 2026 Asian Games.
Women’s 400m Heats
- Poovamma Raju – 53.35s (Fastest qualifier)
- Kiran Pahal – 53.42s
- Aishwarya Mishra – 53.61s
- Rashdeep Kaur – 53.69s
The performances underline the growing depth in Indian women’s one-lap sprinting, an event in which the country has traditionally enjoyed considerable success, particularly in relay competitions at the continental level.
Poovamma, one of India’s most experienced 400m runners, once again demonstrated her consistency by topping the qualifying charts. A multiple Asian Championships medallist and a key member of India’s relay squads over the past decade, she continues to remain competitive against a younger generation of athletes.
Kiran Pahal, meanwhile, has emerged as one of India’s leading quarter-milers in recent seasons, consistently producing performances at the international qualifying standard. Aishwarya Mishra and Rashdeep Kaur have also shown impressive progress, adding valuable depth to India’s pool of 400m runners ahead of a busy international calendar.
The timing of these performances is particularly significant. With the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games both scheduled later this year, India appears well placed not only in the individual event but also in the women’s 4x400m relay, traditionally one of the country’s strongest disciplines.
The four qualifiers will return to the track later today, when they go head-to-head in the women’s 400m semi-finals, scheduled for 6:30 pm IST.
A forgotten hurdle. A solo re-run. And ultimately, a missed opportunity.
One of the most unfortunate incidents of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships unfolded in the women’s 400m hurdles, where 20-year-old Harshitha was left paying the price for an officiating error that has raised serious questions about athlete welfare and competition management.
Harshitha had initially appeared to have done everything right.
Competing in Heat 1 on Friday evening, she clocked 1:01.03, finishing fourth and seemingly earning a place in the final.
But celebrations were short-lived.
Officials later discovered that one hurdle had not been placed in her lane, meaning she had cleared only nine hurdles instead of the mandatory ten. The error rendered the race invalid for her, despite the mistake being entirely beyond her control.
Following the discovery, officials invoked World Athletics Competition Rule (CR) 18.7, which allows the referee to order a re-run or advancement when an athlete has been adversely affected by circumstances during the competition.
As a result, Harshitha was asked to contest the race again.
This time, she had to run alone.
A Race Against the Clock
The solo re-run was scheduled for 9:30 am on Saturday, just hours before the final.
Unlike her competitors, who advanced through the normal heats, Harshitha faced the unusual task of running without anyone alongside her—a significant disadvantage in an event where pacing and competition often influence performance.
To qualify for the final, she needed to clock under 1:02.00.
She stopped the clock at 1:02.54, missing qualification by 0.54 seconds.
Her Inter-State Championships ended there.
“Everyone Is Running Two Races. I Am Running Three.”
Speaking to the media after the re-run, an emotional Harshitha questioned the fairness of the situation.
“Everyone is running two races, while I am running three.”
She also revealed another troubling aspect of the episode.
“The officials said it was my fault too, as I cleared the adjacent lane’s hurdle yesterday.”
The remark has only intensified the debate surrounding the handling of the incident.
Bigger Questions for Indian Athletics
While the decision to order a re-run was in accordance with World Athletics rules, the episode has highlighted the difficult balance between following regulations and ensuring fairness to athletes.
A 400m hurdles race is built around rhythm, stride pattern and race dynamics. Running alone, without direct competition, presents a very different challenge from racing in a full field.
The incident becomes even more significant because the Inter-State Championships are not just a national competition. They also serve as the final domestic qualifying event for selection to the 2026 Asian Games.
For Harshitha, an officiating lapse meant running an additional race and ultimately missing the final.
The regulations may have been followed.
But the larger question remains: Should an athlete bear the consequences of an officiating error at a championship of this importance?
A shocking incident unfolded during the women’s 400m hurdles at the ongoing Interstate 2026, which also serves as an Asian Games qualifier.
Harshitha, representing Tamil Nadu in Heat 1 (Lane 8), clocked a personal best of 1:01.03, finishing third in her heat and initially qualifying comfortably for the final.
However, after clearing the fourth hurdle, she found that the fifth hurdle in her lane was missing. Confused, she crossed over and cleared the hurdle in Lane 7 before completing the race.
It was later discovered that Lane 8 had only nine hurdles instead of the required ten. nnis Sports reached out to technical officials at the venue. They confirmed that a protest had been lodged but declined to provide any further clarification.
According to a source, Harshitha has now been asked to run alone at 9:30 AM tomorrow and must clock under 1:02.00 to qualify for the final.
This raises a serious question: If the error was on the part of the technical officials, why should the athlete bear the consequences by having to run three races in two days?
Running alone is vastly different from competing alongside other athletes. If she fails to match her earlier time, should she be penalized for an error that was not hers?
Odisha produced an impressive performance in front of the home crowd to win the men’s 4×100m relay title at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, clocking 39.92s to secure the gold medal.
The host team delivered a composed and efficient race, executing smooth baton exchanges to finish ahead of a competitive field and claim the national title. Their victory added another memorable moment for the home supporters as Odisha celebrated success on its own track.
Tamil Nadu finished close behind to take the silver medal in 40.02s, missing the gold by just one-tenth of a second after a strong challenge throughout the race. Maharashtra completed the podium, claiming the bronze medal with a time of 40.37s.
The final showcased the depth of sprint relay competition in India, with all three medal-winning teams producing sub-41-second performances. The close margins between the leading teams reflected the highly competitive nature of the event and underlined the improving standards of domestic sprinting.
Despite the quality of the performances, the winning time of 39.92s fell short of the Asian Games qualification standard of 38.81s. While the relay squads delivered an entertaining contest and strong national-level performances, they finished just outside the required benchmark for qualification.
The men’s 4×100m relay has continued to grow in competitiveness over recent seasons, with state teams placing increasing emphasis on baton exchanges and relay coordination. The Interstate Championships once again provided an important platform for the country’s best sprinters to compete together and assess their progress ahead of future international competitions.
For Odisha, the victory represents a significant achievement, especially on home soil, where the team capitalised on familiar conditions and home support to emerge victorious. Although the Asian Games qualification mark remained out of reach on this occasion, the championship-winning performance highlighted the team’s potential and added another memorable chapter to the 2026 Interstate Championships.
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.