The Indian Open U23 athletics 2026 results from Day 1 are now official. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has published the result sheet for the opening day of the 6th Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition, which began at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 16 October.

Eight finals were decided on Friday, and meet records fell in five events. This page therefore lists the medallists in every Day 1 final, the new meet records, the leaders from the qualifying rounds and a medal count by team. Every result below comes from the official AFI Day 1 result sheet.

Indian Open U23 athletics 2026 Day 1: the highlights

Records fell on the track, in the pole vault and in the discus. Rushiprasad Desai led the way in the men’s 100m, while the women’s discus produced three throws beyond the old meet record.

Rushiprasad Desai runs 10.29, then wins the 100m

Rushiprasad Desai of Maharashtra won his 100m semi-final in 10.29 seconds, with a legal tailwind of 0.7 m/s. As a result, he broke the meet record of 10.38, which Animesh Kujur of Odisha set in Patna in 2024. In the same semi-final, Abhay Singh of Madhya Pradesh equalled the old record with 10.38.

In the final, Desai ran into a headwind of 0.8 m/s. However, he still won clearly in 10.35.

Four thousandths of a second decide silver, bronze and fourth

The 100m final also produced the closest finish of the day. Savin Thingalaya of Reliance, Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram of Odisha and Abhay Singh all clocked 10.46. The photo-finish camera then separated them: Thingalaya ran 10.451, Dondapati 10.455 and Singh 10.459.

So Thingalaya took silver and Dondapati took bronze, while Singh missed a medal by four thousandths. Dondapati was the defending champion, because he won the 100m at last year’s edition in 10.49.

Unnathi Bollanda breaks the women’s 100m record in the semi-final

Unnathi Bollanda of Reliance won the women’s 100m in 11.62, into a headwind of 0.6 m/s. That time matched the old meet record of 11.62, which Sakshi Champala set at Hanumakonda in 2025. However, Bollanda had already broken it in her semi-final, where she ran 11.55 with a tailwind of 1.2 m/s.

Kiruthika of Tamil Nadu took silver in 11.74, while V Sudheeksha of Karnataka won bronze in 11.82.

Priya wins a record-breaking discus with her last throw

The women’s discus was the best contest of the day. All three medallists threw beyond the meet record of 50.73m, which Nikita Kumari set at Hanumakonda in 2025.

First, Anisha of Delhi went past the record with 51.06m in round three, and then improved to 51.11m. Next, Nikita Kumari, now competing for Rajasthan, took the lead with 51.92m in round four. Finally, Priya of Haryana threw 53.07m with her sixth and last attempt to win gold.

Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar both clear 5.30m

Dev Meena of Madhya Pradesh won the men’s pole vault with 5.30m, beating his own meet record of 5.20m from Patna in 2024. He passed every height up to 5.10m, and then cleared both 5.10m and 5.30m at the first attempt.

His state teammate Kuldeep Kumar also cleared 5.30m, but needed two attempts. Therefore, Meena won on countback. Earlier this season, Kuldeep had beaten Meena on countback at 5.25m, at the Indian Athletics Series meet in Jaipur.

Ramratan of Rajasthan won bronze with 5.00m. Ashish Sharma of Uttar Pradesh also cleared 5.00m, but he needed three attempts, while Ramratan needed only one.

IOCL one-two in the 5000m, by two hundredths

Sonam Parmar won the women’s 5000m in 17:03.41, just ahead of her IOCL teammate Sunita Devi in 17:03.43. Vartika Patel of Uttar Pradesh took bronze in 17:06.78. Later the same evening, Parmar also ran the 1500m heats, where she clocked 4:37.12.

Countback decides the women’s high jump

Mahek Nasrin Dayan K of Odisha and Arpita Sarkar of West Bengal both cleared 1.69m. However, Mahek did not fail once up to that height, while Arpita needed extra attempts at 1.55m, 1.65m and 1.69m. As a result, Mahek won gold.

Three athletes cleared 1.60m. Anchal Sharma of Punjab took bronze, because she cleared it at the first attempt with no earlier failures.

Munesh and Sheeba D win the other field titles

Munesh of BSF won the women’s shot put with 14.27m in round two. Jhalak Chahal of Uttar Pradesh moved up to silver with 14.14m in her final attempt, while Khusboo of Haryana took bronze with 13.97m.

In the women’s long jump, Sheeba D of Kerala jumped 6.29m in round two to win. Munmun Chetia of Assam took silver with 6.13m, and Prathiksha Yamuna A of Tamil Nadu won bronze with 6.08m.

Meet records on Day 1 of the Indian Open U23 athletics 2026

The official result sheet marks new meet records in five events. One of them, the men’s hammer throw, fell in the qualifying round, before the final had even started.

Men’s results: Indian Open U23 athletics 2026 Day 1

Two men’s finals were held on Day 1. Times are in seconds, while field marks are in metres.

Women’s results: Indian Open U23 athletics 2026 Day 1

Six women’s finals were decided on Day 1, and six different teams won them.

Fourth to eighth in the Day 1 finals

Qualifying rounds and the decathlon after Day 1

Nirbhay Choudhary of Delhi produced the standout qualifying mark. He threw 65.43m in the hammer, which broke the meet record and was also the only throw past the 65.00m automatic qualifying mark. By contrast, nobody reached the automatic marks in the men’s discus (58.00m) or long jump (7.80m).

Final times are from the AFI competition page and may change.

Bharath Raj B leads the decathlon

Bharath Raj B of Kerala leads the decathlon with 3,773 points after five events. His best score came in the high jump, where he cleared 2.10m. Abhijit Bhosale of Air Force is second with 3,589 points, and Jayesh Rathva of Gujarat is third with 3,525. The meet record is 7,065 points, set in 2024.

Medal count by team after Day 1

AFI does not publish a team table with the daily results. So we counted the medals in the eight Day 1 finals. Eight different teams won one gold each, and 16 teams won at least one medal.

However, this is our count and not an official standing. Since the meet is open, the table mixes states with institutional teams such as IOCL, Reliance and BSF. We will update it after Day 2 and Day 3.

Last year: the 5th edition in Hanamkonda

The 5th Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition took place in Hanamkonda, Warangal, from 16 to 18 October 2025. Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram won the men’s 100m there in 10.49, according to World Athletics. This year, he ran faster in Jaipur, but 10.46 was only good enough for bronze.

Two of the records set in Hanamkonda lasted just one year. Sakshi Champala’s 11.62 in the women’s 100m and Nikita Kumari’s 50.73m in the discus both fell on Day 1 in Jaipur. Similarly, two records from the 2024 edition in Patna also went: Animesh Kujur’s 10.38 and Dev Meena’s 5.20m.

What comes next at the Indian Open U23 athletics 2026

Day 2 on Saturday, 17 October, has the busiest programme of finals. It includes the men’s 5000m, both 1500m and 400m finals, the men’s 110m hurdles, the women’s 100m hurdles and the women’s pole vault. In addition, the men’s discus, shot put and long jump finals, the women’s 10,000m and half marathon race walk, and the end of the decathlon are also on Day 2.

Day 3 on Sunday, 18 October, closes the meet. It has both 200m, 800m, 400m hurdles and 3000m steeplechase finals, the men’s 10,000m and half marathon race walk, the hammer, javelin and triple jump for men and women, the men’s high jump and the heptathlon. The full timetable is in the AFI competition schedule (PDF).

Meanwhile, the junior season moves to the National Junior Athletics Championships 2026 in Chennai from 23 to 27 October. Results from every other meet this season are also on the Indian athletics results page.

The Neeraj Chopra injury that ended his 2026 season is an ankle ligament tear that he suffered in training in late August 2026, shortly after his season-best 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League. As a result, he ended his season early and missed the Diamond League Final, the Ultimate Championship and the Asian Games.

No return date has been announced. However, Neeraj has said that he will now focus on rehabilitation and on the competitions of next year. This update covers what happened, the events he missed, what he said and what we know about his comeback.

What happened: the Neeraj Chopra injury timeline

Neeraj had already lost the start of 2026 to injury. A lower-back problem delayed his first competition until June. After that, he built up steadily and won Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow. For his full career record, see our Neeraj Chopra athlete profile.

The timing hurt most. The injury came the day after his Lausanne season best, just as he was getting back to his best form.

Events Neeraj Chopra missed because of the injury

Neeraj had three big competitions planned for September. As our preview of his September showed, each one had an elite field.

The Asian Games hurt India the most, because Neeraj was the defending champion from Hangzhou 2022. Without him, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won gold with 88.55m. Even so, Yashvir Singh took silver and Rohit Yadav bronze, so India still won two medals in the event. Read more on who replaced Neeraj Chopra at the Asian Games.

What Neeraj Chopra said about his injury

Neeraj announced the injury in a statement on social media. He wrote that he had finally found his momentum in Lausanne, before the ligament tear in training ended his season.

Later, speaking to the media on 20 September, he said the first step was to accept the injury. He admitted that the timing was hard, because he had just regained his form. He also advised young javelin throwers to be patient, since the event is prone to injuries.

When will he return to competition?

There is no confirmed return date or timeline yet. Neeraj himself has said that he will restart rehabilitation, return to training gradually and target the competitions of next year.

His 2026 season before the setback

Despite the late start, Neeraj was getting better with every competition. He won Commonwealth Games silver, then threw 88.05m in Lausanne. That throw lifted him into the qualifying places for the Ultimate Championship, and he had already qualified for the Diamond League Final.

Rumesh Pathirage, meanwhile, beat him in both Glasgow and Lausanne. As a result, the Sri Lankan has become the new leader of Asian javelin; you can read more in our profile of Pathirage’s rise.

Indian javelin without Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj’s injury opened the door for the next generation. Yashvir Singh threw a personal best of 85.72m for Asian Games silver, and Rohit Yadav took bronze with 84.35m. See the full Asian Games javelin results for every throw.

Indian athletes banned for doping in 2026 include national medallists, Indian Athletics Series winners and, in a clear shift this year, high-profile coaches. The latest National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) list, dated 12 October 2026, names 14 athletes and support staff, and eight of them are from athletics.

This page brings together every major doping ban and provisional suspension in Indian athletics this year. It covers cases from NADA and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the substances involved, and what each sanction means for the athlete. Athletics India reported many of these cases first, and we update this page whenever a new list is published.

Latest Indian athletes banned for doping: NADA list of 12 October 2026

NADA’s provisional suspension list of 12 October 2026 is the most recent update. It includes a Federation Cup medallist, several Indian Athletics Series winners and a leading Army Sports Institute (ASI) coach. We reported the full list the following day in 8 of 14 new provisional suspensions are from athletics.

Five of the six athletes in the table tested positive for at least one anabolic steroid. Several had won finals at the Indian Athletics Series this season, so those results may now be reviewed. Sakir, for example, won 1500m silver at the 2026 Federation Cup.

Coaches suspended and banned for doping in 2026

For years, doping cases in India ended with the athlete. In 2026, however, NADA has charged several well-known coaches. This matters because one coach can influence dozens of athletes. Our analysis, how the 2026 crackdown put top coaches in NADA’s crosshairs, looks at this shift in detail.

Yunus Khan: provisional suspension for complicity

Mohammad Yunus Khan, a middle and long distance coach at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, has been charged under Article 2.9 of the NADA Anti-Doping Rules. He guided Gulveer Singh early in his career and has worked with marathoner Sawan Barwal. According to our sources, the charge is linked to training access for Kartik Kumar, who is serving a ban. Khan declined to comment. Read the full story: ASI coach Yunus Khan suspended by NADA.

Rakesh Kumar: lifetime ban

NADA handed coach Rakesh Kumar a lifetime ban for administering prohibited substances to athletes in athletics, weightlifting and powerlifting. He had been suspended since March 2025. It is one of very few lifetime bans given to a coach in Indian athletics.

Sandeep Maan: trafficking charge

Sonipat-based coach Sandeep Maan appears on NADA’s list under Article 2.7, which covers trafficking of prohibited substances. The case is linked to junior athlete Sanjana Singh, who is also on the list.

Other Indian athletes banned for doping earlier in 2026

The October list follows a steady run of cases since January. These are the main ones we reported, with a link to each story.

The investigation around sprinter Dhanalakshmi Sekar and her coach has also continued this year. We covered it in the Dhanalakshmi Sekar doping case and the probe into coach Manikandan.

Banned substances found in Indian athletes in 2026

The same few substances appear again and again in this year’s cases. All of them are on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

• Stanozolol: an anabolic steroid that builds muscle and strength. It is the most common substance in Indian cases this year.
• Metandienone, Oxandrolone, Drostanolone and Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone: other anabolic steroids, often found together with Stanozolol.
• Mephentermine: a stimulant first developed as a blood pressure medicine. It is banned in competition.
• Letrozole: a hormone modulator, often used to limit the side effects of steroid use.
• Morphine: a narcotic painkiller, banned in competition.

Provisional suspension vs doping ban: what is the difference?

Most names on the October list are provisionally suspended, not yet banned. A provisional suspension starts after a positive test or a formal charge, and the athlete cannot compete until the case is decided.

The case then goes to NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP). If the panel finds a violation, it hands down a ban, usually four years for an intentional steroid offence. Either side can then appeal to the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP). Complicity charges, like the one against Yunus Khan, can lead to a ban of two years up to life.

For a step-by-step guide, read our explainer on the NADA process from doping allegation to final appeal. NADA publishes its official lists on the NADA India website, while international bans appear on the AIU global list of ineligible persons.

What happens after an Indian athlete is banned for doping

A ban affects more than the athlete’s next competition. Results from the date of the positive sample are usually disqualified, which means medals, prize money and records can be taken away. Rankings and team selections may also change for other athletes.

During the ban, the athlete cannot train at federation-recognised or government-funded facilities. They may only return to team training near the end of the ban, in the last two months or the last quarter of the period, whichever is shorter. This rule is at the centre of the Yunus Khan case. We also discussed a related question in should a doping ban end an athlete’s right to coach?

Why doping in Indian athletics is under global watch

India has one of the highest numbers of banned track and field athletes on the AIU’s ineligible list. The AIU also keeps India in its highest-risk group of countries. We explained what this means in India’s Category A doping risk status.

Pressure has also come from WADA. Its leadership met India’s Central Bureau of Investigation this year to discuss supply networks, as we reported in WADA chief meets CBI over India’s doping crackdown. In addition, NADA has widened its Registered Testing Pool, with 120 athletics athletes in the Q2 2026 pool, and anti-doping education is now mandatory for Asian Games athletes.

For clean athletes, every case matters. Results, national records and team places can all change after a ban, so a clear record of Indian athletes banned for doping is important for the whole sport.

How Athletics India reports doping cases

Our team checks every new NADA and AIU list as soon as it is published. We then confirm each athletics case against competition results and, where possible, contact the athlete or coach for comment. Each name on this page links to our original report.

A provisional suspension is not a final finding. We say clearly when a case is still open, and we update this page when a panel reaches a decision or a suspension is lifted. To report an error, please contact our editorial team.

Sriram Singh, an Indian middle-distance runner, faced a career-threatening respiratory illness that nearly ended his athletic journey. Declared medically unfit, he was reassessed by a dedicated sports medicine team, which identified his condition as exercise-induced asthma.

The Indian Open U23 Athletics 2026 competition takes place from 16 to 18 October at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has published the full schedule: 40 finals over three days, including the decathlon, the heptathlon and two half marathon race walks.

This is the sixth edition of the meet for athletes in the Under 23 age group. Below, therefore, you will find the day-by-day timetable of every final, the warm-up rounds worth watching, last year’s winners and where to follow the results. In addition, we will update this page with the medal winners each evening.

Indian Open U23 Athletics 2026 dates and venue

The competition runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. AFI announced the schedule on its official website, and it is version 1.1, dated 29 September. As AFI notes, the organisers may still change it.

Each day starts at 6:00 AM with a distance race or a race walk. Most finals, meanwhile, are in the evening session, between 2:20 PM and 6:10 PM.

Day 1 schedule: Friday 16 October

Ten finals take place on the opening day. The 100m finals close the day, with the women at 5:20 PM and the men at 5:30 PM. Before that, the 100m and 400m heats and semi-finals fill the morning and afternoon.

The men’s decathlon also starts on Day 1 with the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m. In addition, the 1500m heats for men and women end the evening.

Day 2 schedule: Saturday 17 October

Day 2 is the busiest, with 13 finals. It opens with the men’s half marathon race walk at 6:00 AM. The 1500m finals follow in the late morning, and the hurdles and 400m finals come in quick succession after lunch.

The decathlon ends with the 1500m at 5:40 PM. Meanwhile, the women’s heptathlon covers its first four events: the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m.

Day 3 schedule: Sunday 18 October

The final day has 17 finals. Because of the field size, the men’s 5000m is run in three races and the men’s steeplechase in two. Places are decided on time across all the races.

The 200m, 800m and both 400m hurdles finals all fall between 3:30 PM and 4:50 PM. Then the heptathlon ends with the 800m, and the women’s steeplechase closes the competition at 6:10 PM.

Indian Open U23 2025: last year’s winners

The 5th edition took place in Warangal, Telangana, from 16 to 18 October 2025. These are the winners of ten finals, as listed on the World Athletics results page.

Two of those champions have since moved up to the senior stage. Sudeshna Shivankar ran in India’s women’s 4x100m relay final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. Mubassina Mohammed, meanwhile, won the long jump at the National Open Athletics Championships in New Delhi this month with 6.38m.

Why the Indian Open U23 Athletics 2026 meet matters

For many junior champions, the Under 23 years decide whether they make the jump to senior level. This meet, therefore, gives them a national final of their own, away from the senior stars. It also matters more this year, because Asia now has an Under 23 championship. At the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, in July, India finished fourth with 16 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze).

Javelin thrower Anand Singh won gold in Ordos with a personal best of 80.57m. India also won the mixed and women’s 4x400m relays there. Results in Jaipur will show which young athletes can build on that.

Indian Open U23 Athletics 2026 results

After Jaipur, the junior season continues with the National Junior Athletics Championships 2026 in Chennai from 23 to 27 October. Results from the zone championships, such as the West Zone athletics 2026 results, are also on our site.

For years, athletes in India faced most of the consequences of doping scandals. However, 2026 has marked a turning point. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has shifted its focus toward structural accountability. As a result, prominent coaches and support staff now face scrutiny under strict anti-doping regulations.

The recent provisional suspension of Yunus Khan, a middle- and long-distance coach at the Army Sports Institute (ASI), has sent shockwaves through Indian athletics. Khan is a prominent name in distance coaching. He has trained elite runners, including Asian Games medallist Gulveer Singh, Kartik Kumar, and Sawan Barwal.

The Case Against Yunus Khan

Charges and Allegations

NADA provisionally suspended Yunus Khan under Article 2.9, which covers complicity in an anti-doping rule violation.

According to the allegations, Khan facilitated training access for Kartik Kumar, a distance runner serving an active NADA suspension. He allegedly provided reference letters or authorization that allowed Kumar to access official, federation-recognized training facilities.

Under anti-doping regulations, helping a suspended athlete bypass facility access restrictions may constitute complicity.

Legal Developments

The Anti-Doping Appeal Panel cleared the suspension, legally exonerating Nagapuri of the provisional charges brought against him. However, proceedings against N Ramesh remain ongoing before the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.

2026 Crackdown: Prominent Coaches Facing Action

Yunus Khan is not an isolated case. In 2026, NADA’s official registry reflected a broader push to enforce accountability among coaches. The following cases involve four other prominent Indian athletics coaches who have faced action under Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).

1. Rakesh Kumar

Sanction: NADA reportedly imposed a lifetime ban on Rakesh Kumar. This case represents one of the first instances in Indian athletics history of a coach receiving a permanent ban.

Background: Kumar is reportedly based in Bihar.

Charge: NADA sanctioned him under Article 2.8. This provision covers the administration or attempted administration of prohibited substances or methods. It also addresses aiding, abetting, or covering up an anti-doping rule violation.

Legal caveat: Public disclosures from NADA provide limited details about the specific evidence and documentation in this case.

2. Ramesh Nagapuri

Sanction: Nagapuri initially faced a provisional suspension. However, the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP) subsequently lifted it.

Background: Nagapuri is a prominent figure in Indian sprinting. He coached Dutee Chand and served as a national junior athletics coach appointed by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) at the time of the charge.

Allegation: NADA accused him under Article 2.9, which covers complicity. The allegation concerned an incident on December 2, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletics Stadium in Hyderabad. He allegedly instructed athletes to leave the stadium to evade surprise doping control. He also allegedly failed to provide contact details for athletes under his care.

Legal caveat: The Anti-Doping Appeal Panel cleared the suspension, legally exonerating Nagapuri of the provisional charges brought against him.

3. Sandeep Maan

Sanction: As of April 1, 2026, NADA’s official list recorded Sandeep Maan under Article 2.7, which covers trafficking or attempted trafficking of prohibited substances.

Background: Maan is a national-level coach from Sonipat, Haryana.

Allegation: He allegedly supplied prohibited substances to track-and-field athletes.

Case context: The investigation stems from positive drug tests involving junior athlete Sanjana. She broke national records and won gold at the National Open and South Asian levels before testing positive for multiple banned substances.

4. Mickey Menezes

Sanction: The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) imposed a four-year ban and a ₹50,000 fine on Mickey Menezes.

Background: Menezes is a high-profile athletics coach based in Mumbai.

Charge: The panel found him guilty of violations under Articles 2.8 and 2.9. The case involved administering the prohibited anabolic steroid Drostanolone by injection to his trainee, Kirti Bhoite.

Defense: Menezes maintained that his supplier had misled him. According to his defense, the supplier claimed that the injection contained no banned ingredients.

Why the 2026 Crackdown Matters

These cases highlight the growing focus on accountability beyond athletes. Coaches and support staff play an important role in training, athlete welfare, and compliance with anti-doping rules.

Consequently, allegations involving prohibited substances, trafficking, or assistance to suspended athletes can have serious professional and legal consequences. However, each case must be assessed on its own evidence and procedural outcome. A provisional suspension or allegation does not automatically establish guilt.

As anti-doping enforcement continues to evolve, greater scrutiny of coaches may become an important part of protecting fair competition in Indian athletics.

World Athletics has named 10 women for the World Athlete of the Year 2026 award, and fans can vote until midnight CEST on Saturday 17 October. The list includes four world record setters, four Ultimate Championship winners and China’s Yan Ziyi, the Asian Games javelin champion.

The nominees were announced on 6 October, together with the 10 men’s nominees. This page therefore covers every woman on the list and her 2026 season, how the vote works, how to vote and what happens next. In addition, every achievement below comes from the World Athletics announcement.

World Athlete of the Year 2026: all 10 women nominees

A panel of eight statisticians picked the nominees: two from World Athletics and one from each of the six continental associations. As a result, the World Athlete of the Year 2026 women’s list covers sprints, hurdles, middle distance, road running, race walking and three throwing events.

The seasons behind the World Athlete of the Year 2026 women nominees

Masai Russell (USA), 100m hurdles

Russell set a world record of 12.09 and ran nine of the ten fastest times of the season. In addition, she was unbeaten in the 100m hurdles, and she won the Ultimate Championship title in Budapest as well as the Diamond League title.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA), 100m and 200m

Jefferson-Wooden won a sprint double at the Ultimate Championship, taking the 100m and the 200m. Moreover, her world-leading 21.47 in the 200m put her third on the world all-time list, and she ran a world-leading 10.62 in the 100m.

Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic), 400m

Paulino won the Ultimate 400m title and regained the Diamond League title. Furthermore, she was unbeaten and ran under 49 seconds in eight races, and set a world lead and Diamond League record of 48.48.

Audrey Werro (Switzerland), 800m

Werro won the Ultimate, Diamond League and European 800m titles. On top of that, she broke the Diamond League record three times, and her world-leading 1:53.70 puts her third on the world all-time list.

Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia), marathon

First, Assefa won the London Marathon in a women-only world record of 2:15:41. Later, she won the Berlin Marathon in 2:11:04, the third-fastest time in history.

Agnes Ngetich (Kenya), road and cross-country

Ngetich won the world half marathon title by 50 seconds in a women-only world record of 1:05:15. Besides that, she won the world cross-country title by 42 seconds and ran world leads for 3000m (8:08.95) and 10km (28:58).

María Pérez (Spain), race walk

Pérez set the inaugural world record for the half marathon race walk, 1:30:06. Remarkably, she did it while winning the European title by 58 seconds.

Chase Jackson (USA), shot put

First of all, Jackson improved the North American shot put record twice, to 21.02m and then 21.14m. In addition, she won the world indoor title and set a Diamond League record to regain the Diamond Trophy.

Camryn Rogers (Canada), hammer throw

Above all, Rogers improved her own North American record to 81.13m, which keeps her second on the world all-time list. In fact, she also had the five best throws in the world this year and retained her Commonwealth Games title.

Yan Ziyi: the only Asian among the World Athlete of the Year 2026 women

Yan Ziyi of China is the only Asian woman on the list. To begin with, she opened her season with 71.74m, an Asian and world U20 record that puts her second on the world all-time javelin list. Then, in Nagoya, she won the Asian Games javelin title with 70.46m, an Asian Games record, at the age of 18.

Asia, in fact, has a javelin champion on both lists. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who won the men’s javelin gold in Nagoya, is among the men’s nominees. You can read more about the Chinese athletics team at the Asian Games on our site.

How to vote for World Athlete of the Year 2026 (women and men)

The vote decides the final ranking of all ten World Athlete of the Year 2026 women nominees, from first to tenth. In total, four groups vote, and each one counts for 25% of the result:

What happens after the World Athlete of the Year 2026 women and men vote

After that, the six finalists are invited to the World Athletics Awards in Monaco, where each winner is announced on stage. For comparison, last year Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA won the women’s award and Mondo Duplantis of Sweden the men’s, as World Track reported.

Who is Animesh Kujur? He is the 23-year-old sprinter from Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, who holds India’s 200m national record of 20.32 seconds and runs for Odisha. At the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, he finished fifth in the 200m final. He then helped India secure bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay.

Yet he was once preparing for life as a soldier. This page therefore traces his journey so far, from his personal records to his 2025 and 2026 seasons, race by race. It also covers his Asian Games experience in Nagoya and his journey from a football-playing childhood to becoming India’s fastest 200m runner.

Who is Animesh Kujur? The short answer

Animesh Kujur is an Indian sprinter who represents Odisha. He was born in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, on 2 June 2003, according to World Athletics, and he runs the 100m and 200m.

In 2025 he reset the national 200m record, reset the 100m record, ran in a Diamond League and became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Championships.

The 200m national record: 20.32 seconds

Animesh set the 200m national record of 20.32 at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea in 2025.

Two weeks later he ran 20.55 for fourth place in the Under-23 200m at the Monaco Diamond League, behind Australia’s Gout Gout (20.10). He was the first Indian sprinter to compete in a Diamond League meeting.

Asian Games 2026: fifth in the 200m final

Animesh entered the Games in three events: the 100m, the 200m and the mixed 4x100m relay.

In the 200m he won his heat in 21.10 on a wet track, then finished second in his semifinal in 20.81 behind Boonson, who ran an Asian Games record 20.10. In the final on Sunday 27 September, Animesh clocked 20.80 for fifth place, well short of his 20.32 best. Boonson won in 19.88, equalling the Games record.

Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2026

Animesh Kujur delivered a promising performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, competing in both the men’s 100m and 200m events. In the 200m, India’s national record holder advanced through the opening round with a time of 20.46 seconds but missed out on a place in the final after finishing sixth in his semi-final in 20.65 seconds, ranking 17th overall.

Animesh Kujur represented India in both the men’s 100m and 200m events at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. In the 200m, India’s national record holder clocked 20.46 seconds in the opening round before finishing sixth in his semi-final with 20.65 seconds, placing 17th overall. The experience provided valuable exposure as he continued to compete against some of the Commonwealth’s leading sprinters.

Asian Games 2026: Mixed 4x100m relay bronze

Two days after the 200m final, Animesh ran the third leg of India’s mixed 4x100m relay team. Gurindervir Singh opened, Sneha Sathyanarayana ran the second leg, and Harita Bhadra anchored. India clocked 41.06 for bronze behind China and Thailand, as we reported.

The 100m: from national record to 10.14

Animesh Kujur made history in Indian sprinting by becoming the first Indian man to break the 10.20-second barrier in the 100m. He first set the national record at 10.18 seconds in July 2025. He achieved this feat at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece. Consequently, he surpassed Gurindervir Singh’s previous national record of 10.23 seconds.

In May 2026, Animesh lowered his record to 10.15 seconds. He clocked this time in the 100m semi-final at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi. As a result, he secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, according to PTI.

However, Gurindervir reclaimed the national record by clocking 10.09 seconds in the final in Ranchi, setting a new benchmark for Indian sprinting. Animesh maintained his strong international form at the Fast Arms Fast Legs meet in Wetzlar, Germany, on July 10, 2026. He clocked an impressive 10.14 seconds in the 100m. As a result, he became the second-fastest Indian man ever in the event. Moreover, he recorded the fastest 100m time by an Indian on foreign soil. Consequently, this performance highlighted his consistency and strengthened his standing on the international stage.

Animesh Kujur’s 2025 and 2026 seasons, race by race

Animesh Kujur progressed from breaking India’s 100m and 200m national records to competing consistently at major international meets. Moreover, he set the 100m national record twice in 2026. However, Gurindervir Singh later raised the benchmark to 10.09 seconds.

Animesh Kujur Personal Bests

Personal-best marks, dates and venues are cross-checked against Animesh Kujur’s World Athletics profile and the Athletics Federation of India athlete profile. His 100m personal best stands at 10.14 seconds. Meanwhile, his legal 200m personal best is 20.32 seconds, which is the Indian national record. His faster 20.27-second 200m performance was wind-assisted and is not recognised as a legal personal best.

His 10.14 is the second-fastest 100m by an Indian, behind Gurindervir Singh’s 10.09. It also means he owns three of the five fastest Indian 100m times.

From Jashpur to Odisha: his story

Animesh was born in Jashpur, in the tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh. Both parents were police officers, so the family moved around. His mother played basketball at the intercollegiate level and his father played football for the state police team. Animesh and his brother Aniket started with football.

He was preparing for life as a soldier before the switch to elite sport.

He joined the Reliance Foundation programme in December 2022 and works with coach Owens. A training camp in Switzerland and movement specialist Chris Woolley helped him improve his starts, historically his weakest area.  Eastern Eye reported his Olympic ambition.

Beyond the track

Animesh Kujur grew up dreaming of becoming a footballer before switching to athletics in 2021. He idolises Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt and often celebrates with Bolt’s signature lightning-bolt pose. In 2025, the Odisha government honoured him with the Biju Patnaik Sports Award 2024. He received the award in the Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games category, along with ₹3 lakh in prize money.

Future plans

Animesh aims to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m and run under 20 seconds in the 200m. He also targets qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Ultimately, he hopes to win a medal on the world stage.

Follow Animesh Kujur on Athletics India

His full stats and results are on Animesh Kujur’s athlete profile. Results from the national championships are on our RESULTS PAGE .

According to the provided competition schedule, the 70th Punjab Schools Inter-District Athletics Championship 2025–26 will take place from October 15 to 18, 2026, at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, Punjab. Over four days, the championship will feature Under-14 and Under-17 athletes competing across track and field events.

The programme includes sprint races, middle- and long-distance running, hurdles, race walking, relays, jumps and throwing events. Additionally, selected sprint events feature preliminary rounds and semi-finals before the finals.

Finally, the championship will conclude on October 18 with the Under-17 boys’ and girls’ 4x400m relay finals.

Event Details

• Event: 70th Punjab Schools Inter District Athletics Championship 2025–26
• Dates: October 15–18, 2026
• Venue: Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, Punjab
• Age categories: Under-14 and Under-17
• Disciplines: Track races, hurdles, race walking, relays, jumps and throws

Source: Competition schedule supplied for this report. Check the dates and programme against any revised notice from the organisers before publication.

Day 1: October 15 — Distance Races, Field Events and Relays

The opening day combines throwing events, distance running, jumps, hurdles and a relay final.

The programme begins at 11:00 AM with the Under-14 girls’ shot put, which uses a 3kg implement. Meanwhile, the Under-17 girls’ long jump starts at 11:10 AM, followed by the Under-17 boys’ discus throw at 11:30 AM.

On the track, the Under-17 boys’ 3,000m begins at 12:10 PM. Shortly afterward, the Under-17 girls’ race starts at 12:25 PM.

After the scheduled break, the Under-14 boys’ high jump begins at 2:10 PM. Next, the Under-17 boys’ 400m hurdles starts at 2:30 PM, followed by the girls’ race at 3:15 PM. Finally, the Under-14 girls’ 4x100m relay concludes the listed programme at 4:00 PM.

Key events on October 15

• 11:00 AM — Under-14 girls’ shot put
• 11:10 AM — Under-17 girls’ long jump
• 11:30 AM — Under-17 boys’ discus throw
• 12:10 PM — Under-17 boys’ 3,000m
• 12:25 PM — Under-17 girls’ 3,000m
• 2:10 PM — Under-14 boys’ high jump
• 2:30 PM — Under-17 boys’ 400m hurdles
• 3:15 PM — Under-17 girls’ 400m hurdles
• 4:00 PM — Under-14 girls’ 4x100m relay

The supplied schedule marks the hurdles and relay events as final/time-trial events. Meanwhile, the schedule lists all the other events mentioned above as finals.

Day 2: October 16 — Sprint Rounds and 400m Finals

The second day features race walking, sprint preliminaries, middle-distance finals and several field-event finals. In addition, it includes the 400m finals for all four age-category and gender groups.

The morning begins at 9:30 AM with the Under-17 boys’ 5,000m race walk and the Under-14 boys’ shot put. The Under-17 girls’ discus throw follows at 9:40 AM. Meanwhile, the Under-17 boys’ long jump starts at 9:45 AM.

Next, the 100m first round begins at 10:00 AM with the Under-17 boys. The Under-17 girls compete at 10:25 AM, followed by the Under-14 boys at 10:50 AM and the Under-14 girls at 11:15 AM.

Afterward, the 400m first round begins at 11:35 AM for the Under-17 boys. The Under-17 girls follow at noon, while the Under-14 boys and girls compete at 12:25 PM and 12:50 PM, respectively.

During the afternoon session, the Under-17 boys’ 1,500m final starts at 2:00 PM, followed by the girls’ final at 2:15 PM. Additionally, the session includes field-event finals and the 100m semi-finals.

The 400m finals begin at 3:15 PM with the Under-17 boys. The Under-17 girls follow at 3:30 PM, while the Under-14 boys compete at 3:45 PM and the girls at 4:00 PM. Finally, the Under-17 boys’ 4x100m relay rounds off the listed programme at 4:20 PM.

Key events on October 16

• 9:30 AM — Under-17 boys’ 5,000m race walk
• 10:00 AM — Under-17 boys’ 100m, Round 1
• 10:25 AM — Under-17 girls’ 100m, Round 1
• 10:50 AM — Under-14 boys’ 100m, Round 1
• 11:15 AM — Under-14 girls’ 100m, Round 1
• 11:35 AM — Under-17 boys’ 400m, Round 1
• 12:00 PM — Under-17 girls’ 400m, Round 1
• 2:00 PM — Under-17 boys’ 1,500m final
• 2:15 PM — Under-17 girls’ 1,500m final
• 2:30 PM onwards — 100m semi-finals
• 3:15 PM — Under-17 boys’ 400m final
• 3:30 PM — Under-17 girls’ 400m final
• 3:45 PM — Under-14 boys’ 400m final
• 4:00 PM — Under-14 girls’ 400m final
• 4:20 PM — Under-17 boys’ 4x100m relay

The four 400m finals make the afternoon a key part of the second day, while the sprint rounds will determine which athletes advance to the next stage.

Day 3: October 17 — 100m Finals, Hurdles and 800m Races

The third day begins at 9:30 AM with the Under-17 girls’ 3,000m race walk. Meanwhile, the morning field-event programme includes the Under-17 girls’ shot put, Under-14 girls’ discus throw, Under-14 boys’ long jump and Under-17 girls’ high jump.

The 100m finals then follow across both age groups. First, the Under-14 boys compete at 10:00 AM, followed by the Under-14 girls at 10:10 AM. Next, the Under-17 boys’ final starts at 10:20 AM, while the girls take the track at 10:30 AM.

The programme then moves to the Under-14 boys’ 80m hurdles at 11:00 AM and the girls’ event at 11:30 AM. After these races, the Under-17 boys’ 800m final begins at 11:50 AM, followed by the girls’ final at 12:10 PM.

In the afternoon, athletes contest the first round of the 200m across all four categories. The Under-17 boys start at 2:00 PM, followed by the girls at 2:25 PM. Meanwhile, the Under-14 boys compete at 2:50 PM, and the girls begin at 3:10 PM.

Field-event finals include the Under-17 girls’ javelin throw, triple jump and hammer throw. In addition, the Under-17 boys will contest the pole vault and hammer throw finals.

The relay programme features the Under-17 girls’ 4x100m relay at 3:35 PM. Finally, the Under-14 boys’ 4x100m relay follows at 4:00 PM.

Key events on October 17

• 9:30 AM — Under-17 girls’ 3,000m race walk
• 10:00 AM — Under-14 boys’ 100m final
• 10:10 AM — Under-14 girls’ 100m final
• 10:20 AM — Under-17 boys’ 100m final
• 10:30 AM — Under-17 girls’ 100m final
• 11:00 AM — Under-14 boys’ 80m hurdles
• 11:30 AM — Under-14 girls’ 80m hurdles
• 11:50 AM — Under-17 boys’ 800m final
• 12:10 PM — Under-17 girls’ 800m final
• 2:00 PM — Under-17 boys’ 200m, Round 1
• 2:25 PM — Under-17 girls’ 200m, Round 1
• 2:50 PM — Under-14 boys’ 200m, Round 1
• 3:10 PM — Under-14 girls’ 200m, Round 1
• 3:35 PM — Under-17 girls’ 4x100m relay
• 4:00 PM — Under-14 boys’ 4x100m relay

The 100m finals and 800m races headline the third day’s track programme. c

Day 4: October 18 — 200m Finals and Closing Relays

The final day features hurdles, the javelin throw, triple jump, pole vault, 200m finals, 600m races and the Under-17 4x400m relays.

The morning begins at 9:30 AM with the Under-17 girls’ 100m hurdles. Next, the Under-17 boys’ 110m hurdles starts at 10:00 AM. The Under-17 boys’ javelin throw follows at 10:10 AM, while the boys’ triple jump begins at 10:15 AM. Meanwhile, the Under-17 girls’ pole vault is scheduled for 10:20 AM.

The 200m finals then begin at 10:30 AM with the Under-17 boys. The Under-17 girls follow at 10:40 AM, while the Under-14 boys and girls compete at 10:50 AM and 11:10 AM, respectively.

Afterward, the Under-14 boys’ 600m final starts at 11:20 AM. The girls’ final follows at 11:40 AM.

Finally, the championship concludes with the Under-17 4x400m relay finals. The boys’ relay starts at noon, followed by the girls’ relay at 12:30 PM.

Key events on October 18

• 9:30 AM — Under-17 girls’ 100m hurdles
• 10:00 AM — Under-17 boys’ 110m hurdles
• 10:10 AM — Under-17 boys’ javelin throw
• 10:15 AM — Under-17 boys’ triple jump
• 10:20 AM — Under-17 girls’ pole vault
• 10:30 AM — Under-17 boys’ 200m final
• 10:40 AM — Under-17 girls’ 200m final
• 10:50 AM — Under-14 boys’ 200m final
• 11:10 AM — Under-14 girls’ 200m final
• 11:20 AM — Under-14 boys’ 600m final
• 11:40 AM — Under-14 girls’ 600m final
• 12:00 PM — Under-17 boys’ 4x400m relay
• 12:30 PM — Under-17 girls’ 4x400m relay

The two 4x400m relays close the four-day programme, according to the supplied schedule.

Events and Disciplines Across Four Days

The championship schedule covers a broad range of athletics events for Under-14 and Under-17 competitors.

Track events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, 600m, 400m hurdles, 80m hurdles, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles and relay races.

Race walking: 5,000m race walk for Under-17 boys and 3,000m race walk for Under-17 girls.

Jumping events: Long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault.

Throwing events: Shot put, discus throw, hammer throw and javelin throw.

The schedule also lists specific implement weights and hurdle heights for certain age groups and events. Therefore, athletes and team officials should review the complete competition document to confirm the relevant technical specifications.

Important Information for Athletes and Team Officials

The timetable lists scheduled start times and identifies each event as a final, preliminary round, semi-final or final/time-trial event. However, several track and field events may take place simultaneously, especially during morning sessions.

Therefore, athletes and team officials should review the complete timetable when planning their preparations. They should also check for revised schedules issued by the organisers.

The supplied document does not include a confirmed list of participating districts or athlete entries. For this reason, readers should consult the organisers’ latest notices for additional information.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) published its latest provisional suspension list on 12 October 2026. The list names 14 athletes and coaches. Eight of them come from athletics.

Sakir — Sakir won silver in the 1500m at the 2026 Federation Cup. This season, he recorded personal bests of 1:51.54 in the 800m and 3:40.83 in the 1500m. His doping test returned a positive result for Stanozolol.

Aditya Patial — Patial finished third in Final 1 of the 800m at Indian Athletics Series-5. He recorded a time of 1:57.02. NADA provisionally suspended him after his test detected three substances: Stanozolol, Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone and Mephentermine.

Mehardeep Kaur — Kaur finished fourth in the 400m at the 2026 Junior Federation Cup. Her personal best in the women’s 400m stands at 54.83 seconds. She opened her season with a win in Final 1 at Indian Open Athletics Series-2. However, her doping test detected Stanozolol, Metandienone and Letrozole.

Amit Majumdar — Majumdar is a 39-year-old javelin thrower from Bengal. NADA provisionally suspended him after his test detected Stanozolol. Meanwhile, he finished second at Indian Open Athletics Series-2, throwing 62.18m.

Shiva Tomar — Tomar won Final 2 of the 800m at Indian Athletics Series-9. However, NADA provisionally suspended him after his doping test detected Mephentermine and Morphine.

Rahul — Rahul won the shot put at Indian Athletics Series-11, held at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. NADA also provisionally suspended him after his test detected Metandienone and Oxandrolone.

Yunus Khan — Khan has worked with several of India’s elite middle- and long-distance runners. These athletes include Gulveer Singh, Sawan Barwal and Kartik Kumar. NADA has provisionally suspended Khan. According to sources within the agency, he has been…