India’s Athletics Squad Expands on Day 2 of Inter-State Meet
Indian athletes secured multiple qualification times and distances for the 2026 Asian Games on Day 2 of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar. Sprinter Animesh Kujur spearheaded the roster of successful competitors alongside pole vaulter Sindhushree G, expanding the selection pool for the upcoming international tournament.
Key Highlights
- National record holder Animesh Kujur clinched gold in the men’s 200m sprint, clocking 20.74 seconds.
- Pole vaulter Sindhushree G established a new national record of 4.25m to secure her qualification slot.
- The women’s 200m and 800m line-ups saw three athletes in each event hit the required qualification marks.
- Shot putter Manpreet Kaur registered a 17.75m throw, leading a trio of successful field qualifiers.
India’s athletics contingent for the 2026 Asian Games continued to swell on Thursday as a string of standout performances at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships saw athletes across track and field achieve the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification standards.
Leading the charge was home favourite Animesh Kujur, who produced another commanding display in the men’s 200m. After dipping below the qualifying mark in the heats with 20.87 seconds, the national record holder returned to clock 20.74s in the final to comfortably win gold. Odisha teammate Dondapati Mrutyum Jayaram (20.97s) finished second, while Kerala’s Jishnu Prasad PK (21.18s) claimed bronze.
RECORDS TUMBLE
The day’s biggest statement, however, came in the women’s pole vault. Karnataka’s Sindhushree G cleared 4.25m to break the national record and comfortably qualify for Aichi-Nagoya. The previous record holder, Baranica Elangovan, was not far behind with a 4.20m effort, while Nitika Akare made it three qualifiers in the event by clearing 4.10m.
The women’s 200m followed a similar pattern, with Harita Bhadra (23.14s), Unnathi Bollanda (23.40s) and Prakruthi Roopa Rao B (23.58s) all finishing inside the qualification mark in an impressive sprint final.
DEPTH EMERGES
Indian middle-distance running also enjoyed a productive evening. Gowthami Jayaraman, Pooja and Lili Das all went under the women’s 800m qualification standard, while Mohammed Afsal P emerged as the lone qualifier in the men’s final after winning gold in 1:48.57.
There was more success in the field as Manpreet Kaur won the women’s shot put with 17.75m, ahead of Krishna Jayasankar and Srishti Vig, both of whom also surpassed the qualifying mark.
National record holder Tejas Shirse kept up his rich vein of form by clocking 13.43 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles heats to seal qualification, while Kerala’s Thowfeeq N (7,276 points) and Maharashtra’s Kushal Mohite (7,251) crossed the Asian Games benchmark in the decathlon.
With the championships entering the business end, the race for places in India’s athletics squad is gathering momentum. While meeting the qualification standards strengthens an athlete’s case, it must be noted that the final squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be selected at the discretion of the AFI.
Future Outlook
The exceptional depth showcased on Day 2 of the Inter-State Championships signals a competitive selection dilemma for the Athletics Federation of India. With multiple athletes breaching the entry criteria in single events, like the women’s pole vault and women’s 200m, selectors face intense deliberation ahead of finalizing the travel roster for Japan. The baseline performance improvement across track and field categories raises the performance expectations for India at the continental tournament in Aichi-Nagoya.
FAQs
What time did Animesh Kujur record to win the men’s 200m gold?
Animesh Kujur clocked 20.74 seconds in the final to take the gold medal, after previously registering 20.87 seconds during the preliminary heats.
Who broke the national record in the women’s pole vault?
Sindhushree G of Karnataka set a new national record by clearing a height of 4.25m, finishing ahead of former record holder Baranica Elangovan who managed 4.20m.
How many athletes achieved the qualifying mark in the women’s 800m?
Three athletes reached the selection standard during the event: Gowthami Jayaraman, Pooja, and Lili Das.
Who won the men’s 800m final and what was the winning time?
Mohammed Afsal P won the men’s 800m gold medal with a time of 1:48.57, becoming the sole male competitor to breach the selection standard in that category.
Does hitting the qualification standard guarantee a place in the final Asian Games team?
Meeting the official qualification metric improves an athlete’s prospects, but the final selection remains entirely at the strategic discretion of the Athletics Federation of India.
