Sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar will miss the upcoming Federation Cup after suffering a hamstring injury during the Open Invitational Relay a few weeks ago, dealing another setback to what has already been a difficult 2026 season.
Manikanta, India’s all-time second-fastest man in the 100m, sustained the injury while running the third leg of the relay event. The timing of the setback is particularly significant as the Federation Cup also serves as the final qualification meet for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, making it one of the most important domestic competitions of the season.
The Karnataka sprinter has endured a frustrating campaign so far. Earlier this year, his season opener at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships ended in disappointment after he was disqualified, preventing him from building momentum early in the season.
Injuries have troubled Manikanta in the past as well. Over the last couple of seasons, he has dealt with recurring fitness interruptions that affected both his training rhythm and competition schedule, despite showing immense promise as one of India’s leading sprint talents.
Manikanta shot into national prominence after clocking one of the fastest 100m times in Indian history, establishing himself as a major contender in Indian sprinting and an important member of the national relay setup.
Despite the latest setback, the sprinter has confirmed that he is already undergoing rehabilitation and remains hopeful of returning before the Interstate Championships later this season.
His recovery will be closely watched, especially with India’s sprint relay programme building towards major international competitions in the coming months.