The 24th National Junior U20 Athletics Federation Cup 2026 concluded at the Mahatma Gandhi Athletics Stadium, Tumkur, Karnataka.

The three-day event saw some of the best-ever results from India’s young army. The meet was supposed to act as the final qualifier for both the Asian and World U20 Athletics Championships, but the national federation uploaded a circular on their website on Day 1 stating that only racewalking, decathlon, and heptathlon athletes can qualify for Worlds from here, while others will have to compete at Indian Series–9 & 10 for World qualification.

1. Events — 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 3000m SC, Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, and Javelin Throw — will be conducted at Indian Athletics Series–9 in Ludhiana on 13th June 2026.

2. Events — 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 110mH/100mH, 400mH, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump — will be held at Indian Athletics Series–10 in Trivandrum on 14th June 2026.

Making it just a qualification event for the Asian Championships, here are some of the performances that stunned the field and made global waves:

1. Nitin Gupta shattered the Asian record, clocking the world’s 2nd-best time. The Uttar Pradesh athlete won gold in the U20 5km race walk with 18:54.37, breaking his own national record and becoming the first Asian to go sub-19. He also breached both Asian and World U20 qualification standards.

2. Kiran K continued his rise, with the U18 national record holder clocking 13.66s in the 110m hurdles semifinals to break the U20 national record, surpassing Tejas Shirse’s 13.74s (2021) and breaching the Asian standard.

3. Mohammed Ashfaq  justified the hype with a sensational 46.05s in the 400m, breaking the U20 national record. The 18-year-old’s run is an Asian lead, India’s 7th fastest this season, and 20th all-time.

4. Kavinraja S defended his dominance in pole vault, clearing 5.12m to break his own meet record. He attempted 5.21m (U20 NR) but narrowly missed. Despite clearing qualification marks, he is ineligible due to age criteria (born in 2006).

5. Shahnavaz produced a massive 8.23m jump in long jump, breaking Murali Sreeshankar’s U20 NR (8.20m). It is India’s best jump this season, an Asian lead, and ranks 2nd in the world (U20).

6. Basant cleared 2.21m in high jump, breaking an 11-year-old meet record and improving his PB from 2.14m. The mark ranks 2nd in Asia and 5th in the world (U20).

7. Sadhana Ravi broke a 17-year-old meet record in women’s triple jump with 12.97m, breaching the Asian standard. Her season best of 13.08m ranks 2nd in Asia and 15th globally (U20).

8. Poonam delivered a standout performance in javelin, throwing 51.64m on her first attempt to break the meet record, achieve a PB, and breach the Asian standard.

9. Mogali Venkatram clocked 1:49.02s in the 800m to break a 4-year-old meet record, register an Asian lead, and secure qualification. It was his second consecutive PB this season.

10. Abhay Singh stormed to a 20.82s finish in the 200m, breaking the U20 national record and ranking 2nd in Asia. Despite breaching both Asian and World standards, he is ineligible due to the age criteria (born in 2006).