India will have two representatives in the men’s 400m final at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, with Setu Mishra and Astik Pradhan successfully progressing through the heats in Ordos, China.
Astik Pradhan delivered one of the standout performances of the qualifying round, producing a composed run to win Heat 2 in 46.51s. The Indian quarter-miler controlled the race well and finished strongly to secure automatic qualification for the final, reinforcing his credentials as one of the contenders for a podium finish.
In Heat 1, Setu Mishra also earned his place in the final after clocking 47.28s to finish fourth. His performance was sufficient to book a spot in the championship race, ensuring India will have a strong presence in the event with two athletes competing for medals.
The successful qualification of both runners is an encouraging result for the Indian contingent, reflecting the depth of the country’s emerging talent in the men’s 400m. The event has traditionally been one of India’s stronger disciplines, and the performances of Setu and Astik continue that trend at the continental U23 level.
Astik’s heat-winning run will provide him with confidence heading into the final, while Setu will look to build on his qualifying performance as both athletes prepare for the decisive race. With two Indians lining up in the final, the country will have multiple opportunities to challenge for a place on the podium.
The men’s 400m final is scheduled to be held tomorrow at 6:35 PM IST, where Setu Mishra and Astik Pradhan will take on Asia’s leading young quarter-milers in pursuit of championship honours.
With both athletes progressing successfully through the heats, India has strengthened its prospects in one of the premier track events at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships, and all eyes will now be on the final as the duo aims to convert qualification into medals.
India will have two representatives in the men’s 200m final at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships after Abhay Singh and Gokul Pandiyan successfully progressed through their respective heats in Ordos, China.
Abhay Singh produced an impressive run to finish second in Heat 2, clocking 21.11 seconds to qualify automatically for the final. Gokul Pandiyan also secured his place in the medal race, finishing third in Heat 1 with a time of 21.51 seconds.
China’s Youwen Huang emerged as the fastest qualifier after recording 20.84 seconds, while Japan’s Kota Uematsu posted the second-fastest time of 20.98 seconds. They were the only two athletes to break the 21-second barrier during the heats.
With two sprinters in the final, India will look to challenge for a podium finish when the men’s 200m final gets underway at 6:35 PM IST.
India’s challenge in the men’s 100m came to an end in the heats at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, with both Vibhaskar Kumar and Sam Vasanth missing out on qualification for the final.
Vibhaskar Kumar produced the better of the two Indian performances, clocking 10.50s to finish fourth in Heat 1. Despite a competitive run, his time was not enough to secure a place among the eight finalists.
In Heat 3, Sam Vasanth crossed the finish line in 10.66s, finishing sixth in his race. Like Vibhaskar, he was unable to advance to the medal round as the competition featured a strong field of sprinters from across Asia.
With both athletes falling short of the required qualification standard for the final, India will not have a representative in the men’s 100m title race at the championships.
The fastest performance of the opening round came from Malaysia’s Md. Fahimi, who impressed by clocking 10.15s across the three heats. His run established him as the quickest qualifier heading into the final and underlined the high standard of competition in the event.
Although the result marks a disappointing outcome for the Indian contingent in the men’s 100m, both athletes gained valuable experience competing against some of Asia’s leading young sprinters on the continental stage. The Asian U23 Athletics Championships continue to serve as an important platform for emerging athletes to test themselves against top regional competition and build experience for future senior international events.
Attention will now shift to the remaining events, where the Indian contingent will look to secure strong performances and challenge for podium finishes. While the men’s 100m campaign has concluded in the heats, India will be aiming for better results in the championships’ upcoming competitions.
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 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.
Animesh Kujur clinched the men’s 100m title at the 65th National Inter-State Athletics Championships, clocking 10.28 seconds to finish ahead of Maharashtra’s Pranav Gurav, who took silver in 10.39 seconds. While the victory added another national title to Kujur’s growing collection, the final proved to be a disappointing outing for India’s leading sprinters.
Both Kujur and Gurav finished well outside the Asian Games qualification standard of 10.16 seconds, with neither athlete able to produce the kind of times that have recently raised expectations for Indian men’s sprinting.
The result was particularly underwhelming given the extraordinary performances witnessed at the Federation Cup just weeks ago. There, Gurindervir Singh became the first Indian man to break the 10.10-second barrier, setting a sensational national record of 10.09 seconds. The competition also saw the national record rewritten multiple times as Gurindervir and Kujur pushed each other to historic performances, with Kujur himself clocking 10.15 seconds before Gurindervir lowered the mark even further.
Those performances signalled a new era for Indian sprinting and suggested that consistently fast times were becoming the norm. Against that backdrop, the Inter-State final failed to live up to expectations.
Kujur remains one of India’s finest sprinters and has enjoyed a breakthrough season, establishing himself among the country’s fastest ever athletes and emerging as a genuine contender on the Asian stage. However, his winning time of 10.28 seconds was well below the level he has shown himself capable of producing.
With the Asian Games qualification mark still out of reach in this race, India’s top sprinters will now be hoping to rediscover their record-breaking form in the competitions ahead.
India’s sprint sensation Animesh Kujur comfortably booked his place for the Asian Games 2026 after clocking 20.87 seconds in the men’s 200m heats at the ongoing 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026.
The performance saw Kujur go under the Asian Games qualification standard with ease, continuing what has been a remarkable rise for one of India’s most exciting track athletes.
His qualification came as little surprise. Over the past two seasons, Kujur has established himself as India’s premier male sprinter, consistently rewriting national records and pushing Indian sprinting into uncharted territory.
Earlier this year, the Odisha athlete became the first Indian man in history to break the 20.50-second barrier in the 200m, setting a national record of 20.32 seconds. He also holds the national record in the 100m with a time of 10.18 seconds and has played a pivotal role in India’s relay successes on the international stage.
Given his pedigree and recent form, clearing the Asian Games qualification mark was always expected. Even in a controlled heat race, Kujur demonstrated his class, crossing the line in 20.87 seconds and safely securing qualification for the continental showpiece.
With the heats out of the way, attention now turns to the final, where the national record holder will look to add another title to his growing collection and further cement his status as the face of Indian sprinting.
*Result:*
* Animesh Kujur – 20.87s (Asian Games Qualification)
The qualification reinforces Kujur’s position as India’s leading sprint medal prospect heading into the 2026 Asian Games.
Bureau Report
Indian sprint sensation and national record holder Gurindervir Singh is set to miss the upcoming Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, a competition that also serves as a key qualification event for the 2026 Asian Games.
The 25-year-old’s name is notably absent from the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) bib list released ahead of the championships, ruling him out of the country’s most important domestic athletics meet of the season.
Gurindervir has been enjoying a breakthrough year. Earlier this season, he etched his name into the history books by clocking a stunning 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100m, becoming the first Indian athlete ever to break the 10.10-second barrier. The performance also saw him rewrite the national record and cement his status as India’s fastest man.
Despite missing the Interstate Championships, Gurindervir has already secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games 2026 and has been included in India’s squad for Glasgow. His absence from the Asian Games qualification meet, however, will come as a disappointment for Indian athletics fans who were hoping to see the national record holder in action.
While he may not feature in the individual 100m at the Interstates, there remains hope that Gurindervir will be part of India’s men’s 4x100m relay plans later in the season.
The Indian relay team will be targeting the Asian Games qualification standard of 38.81 seconds, a mark that appears well within reach based on recent performances. Last season, the Indian quartet clocked faster than the qualification standard in all three of their major outings, emerging as one of Asia’s most promising sprint relay teams.
Gurindervir, alongside fellow sprint star Animesh Kujur, played a crucial role in those performances, providing India with explosive starts and strong relay legs against quality international competition.
Punjab sprinter Harjit Singh continued his impressive form this season, storming to victory in the men’s 100m at the ongoing Indian Athletics Series–8 with a blistering time of 10.17 seconds.
The race was run with a tailwind of +2.1 m/s, just above the legal limit of +2.0 m/s for record eligibility. While the mark will not be considered for record purposes, it nevertheless underlines the exceptional form that Harjit has displayed in recent weeks.
The performance comes just days after the Punjab athlete clocked 10.21 seconds at the Punjab State Athletics Championships, further establishing himself as one of the country’s most promising sprinters.
Harjit’s rise is also closely linked to one of Indian sprinting’s biggest success stories. The Punjab sprinter was a former training partner of India’s fastest man, Gurindervir Singh, with both athletes training under coach Happy Singh during their developmental years.
Coach Happy Singh played a significant role in shaping Gurindervir’s early sprinting career, and Harjit’s recent performances are a testament to the strong sprinting culture that has emerged from the training group.
With back-to-back fast times and growing confidence on the track, Harjit Singh is rapidly establishing himself as a sprinter to watch. If he can reproduce similar performances under legal wind conditions, he could soon find himself among the fastest Indian athletes in the country this season.
Seventeen-year-old Aditya Pisal of Maharashtra delivered a stunning performance at the ongoing Indian Athletics Series–8, sprinting to victory in the men’s U20 100m final with a remarkable time of 10.23 seconds.
Pisal’s clocking was significantly faster than the current Indian U20 national record of 10.35 seconds, held by Indian sprint star Gurindervir Singh. However, the performance will not be recognized as a national record due to excessive wind assistance.
The race was run with a tailwind of +3.5 m/s, well above the maximum allowable limit of +2.0 m/s for record purposes under World Athletics regulations. While the timing showcases Pisal’s exceptional speed and potential, it cannot be entered into the record books.
Despite the wind-aided conditions, the performance serves as a strong statement from one of India’s most promising young sprinters. Running 10.23s at just 17 years of age highlights Pisal’s growing stature in Indian athletics and underlines his potential to challenge national benchmarks in legal conditions in the future.
