A concerning moment unfolded at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi after distance runner Shivaji Maddapa collapsed following the men’s 10,000m race, reportedly due to severe dehydration.
Shivaji, who had initially crossed the finish line in second place, required immediate medical attention on the track itself. Army coach Sub Younus Khan and psychologist Col Arvind Jha rushed in quickly to assist the athlete before further support arrived.
Fortunately, timely intervention helped stabilise the runner at the venue.
The incident also led to a dramatic twist in the race results. Despite finishing second, Shivaji was later disqualified after officials noted that he had stepped outside the race lane during the final lap. Reports suggested the athlete may have become disoriented because of dehydration towards the closing stages of the race.
The episode once again highlighted the physical demands of long-distance racing, particularly in difficult weather conditions and high-intensity domestic competitions.