The 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar delivered everything Indian athletics had hoped for—national records, personal bests and a flurry of Asian Games qualification marks.

But alongside the outstanding performances, a handful of avoidable technical lapses also drew attention at India’s premier domestic athletics meet.

With the Inter-State Championships serving as the final qualification event for the 2026 Asian Games, the competition carried enormous significance. While the overall organisation and infrastructure were widely appreciated, a few officiating errors impacted athletes and prompted questions about competition management.

Key Incidents

400m Hurdles: Tamil Nadu’s Harshita was forced to re-run her heat after officials failed to place one of the ten mandatory hurdles in her lane. Having initially qualified, she had to race alone the next morning and narrowly missed a place in the final.

100m Semifinals: Multiple technical faults delayed one of the men’s 100m semifinals. Athletes later said unstable starting blocks and loose sensors, reportedly affected by rain, disrupted their preparations and race rhythm.

Women’s Javelin: The silver and bronze medal positions sparked discussion after two athletes finished with identical best throws. Questions were raised over whether the World Athletics tie-break procedure had been correctly applied.

3000m Steeplechase: The final day’s steeplechase was delayed by around 30 minutes after the water jump had not been prepared before the scheduled start, disrupting athletes’ carefully planned warm-up routines.

None of these incidents overshadowed the exceptional quality of competition on display. However, at a championship that doubled as India’s final Asian Games selection event, they serve as a reminder that world-class athlete performances deserve equally high standards of technical officiating.

The 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships concluded in Bhubaneswar after five days of outstanding performances, national records, and a flood of Asian Games qualification marks. While individual brilliance grabbed the headlines, the medal table also offered an insight into which states continue to dominate Indian athletics.

Tamil Nadu finished on top after edging Uttar Pradesh on the basis of silver medals, with both states winning nine gold medals each. Haryana, long regarded as one of India’s athletics nurseries, completed the top three.

Tamil Nadu’s Remarkable Depth

Tamil Nadu once again underlined why it remains one of India’s strongest athletics states. The contingent was led by standout performers including Vishal TK, Praveen Chithravel, Vithya Ramraj, and the men’s 4×400m relay team, all of whom clinched gold medals. Hurdlers Nandhini K and Baranica Elangovan also continued the state’s rich tradition in the hurdles. The state has invested heavily in athletics over the past decade, and the results are increasingly evident across both track and field events.

Uttar Pradesh Close Behind

Just one silver medal separated Uttar Pradesh from the title. The state enjoyed another exceptional championship, led by Parul Chaudhary, Annu Rani, and middle-distance stars Yoonus Shah and Gulveer Singh, whose memorable 1500m duel was among the highlights of the meet. Uttar Pradesh continues to produce athletes across endurance, jumps, and throws.

Haryana Continues to Deliver

Few states contribute as consistently to Indian athletics as Haryana. Its five gold medals reflected strength across multiple disciplines, with athletes such as Pooja (high jump gold), Balkishan (3000m steeplechase gold), and a host of throwers and sprinters keeping Haryana firmly among India’s athletics elite. The state’s sporting ecosystem continues to produce athletes capable of competing on the international stage.

Kerala’s Middle-Distance Legacy

Kerala once again showcased its tradition of producing outstanding runners. National 800m record holder Mohammed Afsal, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and several relay prospects contributed to another strong finish as the state claimed fourth place.

Maharashtra’s Field Event Strength

Despite finishing fifth, Maharashtra produced some of the championships’ biggest moments. Sarvesh Kushare rewrote the national record books in the high jump with a stunning 2.31m, while the state also enjoyed success in throws and jumps, collecting eight bronze medals—the highest of any state.

Karnataka’s Consistency

Karnataka matched Haryana with 15 overall medals, finishing sixth only because of fewer gold medals. The state impressed through athletes like Unnathi Bollanda, Yashas Palaksha, Sindhushree G (who shattered the national record in the pole vault), and several emerging quarter-milers and jumpers, underlining its depth across sprint and hurdle events.

Hosts Odisha Shine

Hosts Odisha celebrated three gold medals and six overall podium finishes. Backed by world-class infrastructure at the Kalinga Stadium and the Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre, the state continues to establish itself as one of India’s emerging athletics hubs.

Punjab’s Throwing Tradition Continues

Punjab’s medal haul was spearheaded by Damneet Singh, who booked his Asian Games berth in the hammer throw with a throw of 69.72m, while the state continued its long-standing excellence in the throwing events.

A Championship to Remember

Beyond the medal table, the 65th Inter-State Championships will be remembered for the sheer quality of performances. National records by Sarvesh Kushare, Dev Meena, Sindhushree G, and Ancy Sojan, along with dozens of Asian Games qualification marks, made this one of the strongest editions of the championships in recent memory.

With the curtains coming down on the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) now faces the task of selecting the country’s athletics squad for the 2026 Asian Games.

While the official team is yet to be announced, the Inter-State Championships were the final domestic qualification event, making performances in Bhubaneswar the biggest indicator of who is likely to wear the India jersey

From certain selections to fiercely contested events where multiple athletes achieved the qualification standard, here’s NNIS Sports’ predicted Indian athletics team for Nagoya 2026.

Men’s Events

200m

Animesh Kujur: The fastest man of the championships completed the sprint double, winning both the 100m and 200m. While he narrowly missed the qualifying mark in the shorter sprint, his 20.74s in the 200m comfortably sealed his place

400m

Vishal TK, Manu TS: No event had greater depth. Seven athletes achieved the qualification standard across the rounds, but Vishal TK (45.43s) and Manu TS (45.60s) were the two fastest in the final and are favourites for the individual event. More quarter-milers are expected to join the relay squad

800m

Mohammed Afsal, Krishan Kumar* – Afsal confirmed his place with another national title. The second berth remains the toughest call. Krishan Kumar and Mogali Venkatram both have strong cases, although Mogali’s likely participation at the World U20 Championships could tilt the balance in Krishan’s favour.

1500m

Yoonus Shah, Gulveer Singh: Both men went under the qualification mark while rewriting the meet record in one of the fastest 1500m races seen at the Inter-State Championships.

110m Hurdles

Expected: Tejas Shirse: A straightforward selection. The national record holder qualified comfortably before winning another national title.

400m Hurdles

Yashas Palaksha, Santhosh Kumar: One of the races of the championships. Both clocked an identical 49.14s while breaking the meet record and comfortably qualifying.

High Jump

Sarvesh Kushare, Aadarsh Ram: Kushare rewrote history with a new national record of 2.31m. Asian Indoor medallist Aadarsh Ram also cleared the qualification mark.

Pole Vault

Dev Meena: Another national record, another milestone. Dev Meena improved his own Indian record for the fifth time this season to virtually seal his berth.

Long Jump

Murali Sreeshankar, Shahnavaz Khan: Both comfortably cleared the qualifying standard to book what should be straightforward selections.

Triple Jump

Praveen Chithravel, Karthik Unnikrishnan: Despite six athletes achieving the AFI standard, the gold and silver medallists are expected to earn the individual berths.

Other Likely Men’s Selections

Shot Put: Karanveer Singh, Samardeep Gill

Hammer Throw: Damneet Singh, Praveen Kumar

Javelin Throw: Rohit Yadav (along with exempt athlete Neeraj Chopra)

Decathlon: Thowfeeq, Kushal Mohite

Women’s Events

200m: Harita Bhadra, Unnathi Bollanda

400m: Prachi, Kiran Pahal

800m: Gowthami, Pooja

100m Hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji, Nandhini K

400m Hurdles: Vithya Ramraj, Anu R

3000m Steeplechase: Ankita Dhyani

High Jump: Pooja, Supriya B

Pole Vault: Sindhushree G, Baranica Elangovan

Long Jump: Ancy Sojan, Shaili Singh

Triple Jump: Asha Illango

Shot Put: Manpreet Kaur, Krishna Jayashankar

Discus Throw: Seema, Sanya Yadav

Hammer Throw: Anushka Yadav

Heptathlon: Pooja

Exempt Athletes

Athletes who were granted exemption from competing at the Inter-State Championships—most notably Neeraj Chopra (Javelin) and Parul Chaudhary (3000m SC)—are also expected to be included in the final squad based on their international performances and qualification status.

It is also expected that some long-distance runners and race walkers who finished in the top two at the Interstate Championships but were unable to achieve the Asian Games qualification standards could still be considered for selection. The championships were held in extremely challenging weather conditions in Bhubaneswar, particularly for endurance events, and the selection committee may take those conditions into account while finalising the squad.

The Final Call

While many events produced clear winners, others—particularly the men’s 400m, 800m and relay pool—have left the selectors with difficult decisions.

The Inter-State Championships have done their job. The athletes have made their case.

Now all eyes turn to the AFI Selection Committee.

Who makes the final cut for Nagoya? We’ll know soon enough.

Disclaimer: This is NNIS Sports’ projected squad based on qualification standards, performances at the Inter-State Championships and existing selection criteria. The final Indian team will be announced by the Athletics Federation of India.

The Indian athletics team’s preparatory training camp in Spala, Poland, could face a delay after visa-related issues disrupted the travel plans of the national contingent ahead of the upcoming international season.

According to sources, only a section of the 68-athlete probable squad has received the necessary visas for travel to Poland. The remaining athletes are yet to obtain their travel documents and have reportedly been instructed to return to their respective training bases until further notice.

The development has created uncertainty over the commencement of the overseas training camp, which forms an important part of India’s preparations for upcoming international competitions. With the majority of the contingent still awaiting visa clearance, the team’s departure schedule is likely to be affected unless the issue is resolved promptly.

A national daily has reported that the matter has now reached the Ministry, with efforts underway to expedite the visa process and facilitate the athletes’ travel. Officials are reportedly working to resolve the issue at the earliest so that the contingent can proceed with its planned preparations without significant disruption.

At present, there has been no official confirmation regarding a revised departure date or the extent of the delay. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is expected to provide further clarity once the visa process is completed and travel arrangements are finalized.

The Spala training camp has been planned as a key phase of preparation for India’s leading athletes ahead of a busy international calendar. Any delay in its commencement could impact the team’s overseas training schedule, although authorities are understood to be making efforts to ensure the issue is resolved as quickly as possible.

For now, athletes not yet issued visas have returned to their respective training centres and are continuing their preparations while awaiting further instructions. More updates are expected as the situation develops.

The men’s 400m final at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 delivered one of the finest one-lap races in Indian domestic athletics, with five athletes breaching the Asian Games qualification standard in a single race.

Representing Tamil Nadu, Vishal TK produced a brilliant performance to clinch the national title in 45.43s, leading a high-quality field and comfortably surpassing the Asian Games qualification mark. His victory capped off one of the most competitive 400m finals witnessed at the Interstate Championships in recent years.

Manu T S of Kerala secured the silver medal after clocking 45.60s, while Jay Kumar of Uttar Pradesh claimed bronze in 45.73s. Both athletes dipped well below the qualification standard, highlighting the exceptional depth in Indian men’s quarter-mile running.

The quality of the race extended beyond the podium. Dharmveer Choudhary of Rajasthan finished fourth in 45.90s, while Rajesh Ramesh of Tamil Nadu placed fifth with 45.91s. Both athletes also achieved the Asian Games qualification standard, making it a historic race in which all five leading finishers crossed the required benchmark.

The performances underline the remarkable progress Indian men’s 400m running has made in recent years. Having five athletes qualify in a single final reflects the increasing competitiveness of the event and provides a significant boost for Indian athletics ahead of major international competitions.

The Interstate Championships have once again proven to be the country’s premier stage for athletes to produce qualification-standard performances. The men’s 400m final, in particular, stood out for its quality, with every athlete in the top five delivering a time worthy of continental competition.

While all five athletes have successfully achieved the Asian Games qualification standard, qualification alone does not guarantee selection. The final Indian squad for the Asian Games 2026 will be determined by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Selection Committee, which will make the final selection based on its established criteria.

The race will be remembered as a landmark moment for Indian quarter-mile running, showcasing unprecedented depth and strengthening India’s prospects in the event on the international stage.

The women’s 400m final at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 produced one of the most remarkable races in recent domestic athletics history, with five athletes surpassing the Asian Games qualification standard in a single final.

Leading the field was Prachi, who claimed the national title with a superb run of 53.24s. She held off a strong challenge from an exceptionally competitive field to secure the gold medal and emerge as the fastest athlete in the race.

Olympian Kiran Pahal finished second in 53.45s, continuing her consistent performances on the national circuit. Close behind her was Devyaniba Zala, who clocked 53.46s to claim the bronze medal after another impressive run.

The depth of the race became even more evident as Neeru Pathak crossed the finish line in 53.47s, just one hundredth of a second behind the bronze medallist, while Rashdeep Kaur completed the top five with 53.61s. All five athletes comfortably finished inside the Asian Games qualification standard, making the final one of the highest-quality women’s 400m races witnessed at the Interstate Championships.

The extraordinary standard of competition highlighted the rapid progress being made in Indian women’s quarter-mile running. Having five athletes achieve the qualification benchmark in a single race reflects the growing depth in the event and provides a significant boost for Indian athletics ahead of major international competitions.

Although all five athletes have successfully achieved the qualification standard, their performances do not automatically guarantee selection for the Asian Games. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Selection Committee will make the final decision on the composition of the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games.

The Interstate Championships have once again demonstrated their importance as the country’s premier domestic athletics competition, and the women’s 400m final will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout events of the meet. With five athletes producing qualification-standard performances in the same race, Indian women’s sprinting has showcased unprecedented depth and competitiveness.

The men’s 400m final at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 produced one of the most exciting races of the competition, with all three medal winners surpassing the Asian Games qualification standard of 45.97s in a display of exceptional depth in Indian quarter-mile running.

Representing Tamil Nadu, Vishal TK stormed to the national title with a superb run of 45.43s, producing one of the finest performances of his career. Maintaining his rhythm through the final bend and finishing strongly in the home straight, Vishal secured the gold medal while comfortably achieving the Asian Games qualification standard.

Kerala’s Manu TS claimed the silver medal after clocking 45.60s, remaining within striking distance of the winner throughout the race. His impressive performance also placed him well inside the qualification benchmark, reinforcing his credentials as one of India’s leading 400m runners.

The bronze medal went to Jay Kumar of Uttar Pradesh, who crossed the finish line in 45.73s. Despite finishing third, Jay also comfortably dipped below the qualification standard, completing a remarkable sweep by the podium finishers.

The final was a testament to the growing strength of Indian men’s one-lap running. With all three medalists running under 45.97 seconds, the event highlighted the depth that has developed in the discipline and reflected the high level of competition within the domestic circuit.

The close contest among the leading athletes ensured an exciting finish, with each of the medal winners producing qualification-standard performances under championship conditions. Such results provide a major boost for Indian athletics as preparations continue for the Asian Games.

The Interstate Championships have once again demonstrated their importance as a platform for athletes to achieve qualification standards and compete against the nation’s best. Vishal TK’s title-winning performance, combined with outstanding runs from Manu TS and Jay Kumar, made the men’s 400m final one of the highlights of the championships and reinforced India’s growing reputation as a producer of world-class quarter-milers.

The women’s 400m final at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 lived up to expectations, producing one of the most competitive races of the meet as all three medal winners surpassed the Asian Games qualification standard of 53.72s.

Representing Uttar Pradesh, Prachi emerged victorious after a strong finish, stopping the clock at 53.24s to clinch the national title. Delivering a composed race from start to finish, she held off a determined challenge from an experienced field to secure the gold medal and achieve the Asian Games qualification standard.

Olympian Kiran Pahal claimed the silver medal with a time of 53.45s, once again demonstrating her consistency at the national level. The experienced quarter-miler remained in contention throughout the race and comfortably dipped below the qualification benchmark to strengthen her credentials ahead of future international competitions.

The battle for bronze was equally intense, with Devyaniba Zala crossing the finish line in 53.46s, just one hundredth of a second behind Kiran. Her performance not only earned her a place on the podium but also secured the Asian Games qualification standard, completing a remarkable sweep by the top three finishers.

The narrow margins between the medal winners highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian women’s one-lap running. With only 0.22 seconds separating gold and bronze, the final showcased the depth and quality emerging in the event, providing a positive sign for Indian athletics.

Having all three podium finishers qualify for the Asian Games benchmark in the same race reflects the progress being made in the women’s 400m. The Interstate Championships once again proved to be an ideal platform for athletes to deliver qualification-standard performances under championship conditions.

Prachi’s national title, combined with the outstanding runs by Kiran Pahal and Devyaniba Zala, made the women’s 400m one of the standout events of the championships. Their performances underline India’s increasing strength in the event and offer encouraging prospects for the country’s quarter-milers on the international stage.

The women’s 100m final at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 produced an exciting contest, with Maharashtra’s Sudeshna Shivankar sprinting to the national title in a time of 11.59s.

Sudeshna delivered a powerful performance from the start, maintaining her momentum through the finish to secure the gold medal. Her winning time left her agonisingly close to achieving the Asian Games qualification standard of 11.54s, missing the mark by just 0.05 seconds.

Despite narrowly falling short of the qualification benchmark, Sudeshna’s performance was one of the standout sprint displays of the championships. Her ability to produce a sub-11.60-second run under championship pressure highlighted her growing stature in Indian women’s sprinting and reaffirmed her position among the country’s leading short-distance athletes.

The race also witnessed an impressive performance from Karnataka’s Sneha SS, who claimed the silver medal after clocking 11.65s. Sneha remained in contention throughout the race and produced a strong finish to secure second place, adding another quality performance to an increasingly competitive domestic sprint circuit.

The women’s 100m final showcased the rising standard of sprinting in India, with the leading athletes pushing each other to faster times. The close competition between Sudeshna and Sneha reflected the depth emerging in the event and provided an encouraging sign for Indian athletics ahead of future international competitions.

While the Asian Games qualification mark remained just out of reach, Sudeshna’s victory demonstrated that Indian sprinters are continuing to close the gap on international standards. Missing the benchmark by only five hundredths of a second serves as motivation as she looks ahead to upcoming competitions.

With Sudeshna Shivankar claiming the national title in commanding fashion and Sneha SS producing a strong silver-medal performance, the women’s 100m final stood out as one of the most competitive track events of the Interstate Championships, offering plenty of optimism for the future of Indian sprinting.