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.