New Delhi, July 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s promising distance runner Shivaji Parashuram settled for a silver medal in the men’s 10,000m on the penultimate day of the inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, on Saturday. Discus thrower Priya and low hurdler Shravani Sachin Sangle added two bronze medals to India’s tally of 11 on Saturday.

Saturday’s 10,000m silver was the second Asian U23 medal for Parashuram, according to information provided by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

Earlier, he had won the 5,000m silver on the opening day. Parashuram pursued the gold in the men’s 10,000m race on Saturday but eventually settled for silver with a time of 29:33.54, a personal best.

Japan’s Yoshihiro Kusuoka took home the gold medal with a time of 29:29.34. China’s Jinzhi Jiang won the bronze medal with a time of 29:42.54.

Shailesh Kushwaha, the second Indian in the gruelling 25-lap race, finished fourth with a time of 30:46.78.

Discus thrower Priya won the bronze medal with a throw of 50.44m, achieved on her third attempt. China secured a 1-2 finish in the women’s discus throw, with Zhichao Jiang taking the gold medal with a throw of 58.63m. Compatriot Jingru Huang won silver with a throw of 55.33m.

India’s Shravani Sachin Sangle won the second bronze medal of the day in the women’s 400m hurdles. She clocked 58.09 seconds. Hsin Ju Chung of Taipei won gold with a time of 57.41 seconds. Silver went to Nurkhon Ochilova of Uzbekistan, who posted a time of 57.99 seconds.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Shreeya Rajesh was fourth (13.49 seconds), and Sabita Toppo was sixth (13.73 seconds). India’s long jumper Mohd Atta Sazid finished fifth with a leap of 7.72m.

Anupriya VS also missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the women's shot put with a distance of 14.97m.

India’s Astik Pradhan finished fifth in the men’s 400m with a time of 46.33 seconds, and Setu Mishra was seventh. He clocked 47.26 seconds.

Source: IANS

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Wetzlar, July 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's national 200m record holder Animesh Kujur continued his rapid rise as one of the country's premier sprinters by clocking a personal best 10.14 seconds to finish second in the men's 100m final at the PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs 2026 meet on Saturday.

The Odisha athlete's performance is the fastest 100m ever recorded by an Indian on foreign soil and the second-fastest by an Indian overall, only behind Gurindervir Singh's national-leading 10.09 seconds. Animesh had shown his form earlier in the day by winning his heat in 10.19 seconds. He improved in the final, shaving one hundredth of a second off his previous personal best of 10.15 seconds. This continues a season in which he has consistently lowered his times.

Already the national record holder in the men's 200m, Animesh has established himself among India's fastest-ever 100m runners. He now owns three of the five fastest 100m times by an Indian, with the all-time list as follows: Gurindervir Singh (10.09s), Animesh Kujur (10.14s), Animesh Kujur (10.15s), Gurindervir Singh (10.17s), and Animesh Kujur (10.18s). His progress in the shorter sprint comes after he secured qualification for the Asian Games 200m at the Inter-State National Athletics Championships in June. He clocked 20.74 seconds, comfortably below the Athletics Federation of India qualifying standard of 20.88 seconds.

Despite achieving the qualifying mark easily, Animesh admitted he was not happy with the timing, saying qualification was his only goal. "Honestly, I was not here for timing. The idea was to secure the qualification mark for the Asian Games. Since I have got it now, I will focus on improving before the Asian Games," he said after the race. His personal best in the 200m is still the national record of 20.32 seconds.

The Inter-State Championships followed India's bronze medal finish in the mixed 4x100m relay at the Asian Relay Championships, where Animesh played a key role. His coach, Martin Owens, revealed that after a demanding travel schedule, the focus had been on securing qualification instead of chasing a fast time. Although Animesh has often said the 200m is his preferred event, many of his biggest improvements in the past year have been in the 100m. Since setting the national 200m record in May 2025, he has gone below 20.50 seconds only once. In the 100m, he has twice lowered the Indian record before Gurindervir Singh reclaimed it with a national-best 10.09 seconds. His latest 10.14-second run highlights his growing status as one of India's top sprinting talents ahead of the Asian Games.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The spotlight was on Indian middle-distance runners as they won two bronze medals on the second day of the inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 in the Chinese city of Ordos on Friday. Sprinter Abhay Singh won India's third bronze of the day in the men’s 200m.

Shakeel set the ball rolling for the Indian team as he won bronze in the men’s 800m. He clocked 1:48.78-sec. Vinod Kumar B, the second Indian in the 800m final, finished fourth with a time of 1:49.10-sec.

India’s second bronze medal came in the women’s 800m race through Bhumeshwory Devi Huidrom, who clocked 2:10.20-sec. However, it was a disappointing day for Vaishnavi Rajendra Rawal as she finished fifth with a time of 2:10.83.

Uzbekistan’s Jonbibi Hukmove won gold in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:08.41. Japan’s Kurumi Sugure won silver (2:09.42).

In an exciting men’s 200m race, Abhay Singh clinched the bronze medal with a time of 20.96 seconds. The youth National Record holder, Abhay, was also the guide for Simran Sharma when she medaled at the Paris Paralympics.

China’s Youwen Huang won gold (20.43 seconds) in the men's 200m, and Japan’s Kota Uematsu settled for silver (20.58 seconds).

India’s Sharuk Khan finished fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. His time was 9.14.14 seconds. Abhijit Sanjay Bhosale also finished fourth in the decathlon. His overall points tally was 6610.

Earlier on the opening day, the Indian quartet of Astik Pradhan, Sandramol Sabu, Setu Mishra, and Shravani Sachin Sangle won a gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay on Thursday.

The country had a good opening day with Indian athletes winning medals in men’s 5,000m, men’s discus throw, and women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

The highlight for India on Day One was the gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay as the quartet clocked the winning time of 3: 18.64 seconds, finishing ahead of China (3:18.74) and the Philippines (3:25.28 seconds), who finished second and third respectively.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian quartet of Astik Pradhan, Sandramol Sabu, Setu Mishra, and Shravani Sachin Sangle won a gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 in the Chinese city of Ordos on Thursday.

The country had a good opening day with Indian athletes winning medals in men’s 5,000m, men’s discus throw, and women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

The highlight for India on Day One was the gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay as the quartet clocked the winning time of 3: 18.64 seconds, finishing ahead of China (3:18.74) and the Philippines (3:25.28 seconds), who finished second and third respectively.

Indian distance runners Shivaji Parashuram and Vinod Singh also gave a good account of themselves by winning silver and bronze in the men’s 5,000m. Parashuram clocked 14:08.19 seconds while Singh's bronze-winning time was 14.23.57 seconds. Japan’s Rui Suzuki was the winner of the men’s 5,000m. His time was 14:01.24.

Prachi Ankush Devkar finished third in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. She clocked 10:32.69 seconds.

It was 1-2 for China in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. Yang Yiting won gold with a time of 10:14.68 seconds, and Liu Yuxin settled for silver (10:25.51 seconds).

In the men’s discus throw, India’s Bhartpreet Singh won a bronze medal with a throw of 52.91m. China’s Li Zhixin was the winner with a throw of 60.79m. Compatriot Jiang Zehao won silver with a throw of 59.60m.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has revised the domestic Indian Athletics Series calendar to provide promising athletes with additional competition opportunities ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Announcing the revised schedule on Saturday, AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said the changes were made keeping in mind athletes who narrowly missed qualification for the two major international events.

"The Indian Athletics Series has been rescheduled keeping in mind the promising athletes who weren’t able to qualify for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Asian Games," Sagoo said.

He also confirmed that while the dates have changed, the venues for the competitions will remain unchanged.

"The venues of the competition that have been rescheduled will remain the same."

Under the revised calendar, the 13th leg of the Indian Athletics Series has been moved from August 14 to August 18. The 14th leg has been pushed back by nine days from August 16 to August 25. The 15th leg, originally set for August 29, will now take place on September 2.

Sagoo also announced changes to the season-ending event, which will now be held two days earlier than originally planned. "The final of the Indian Athletics Series will be held on September 10 and not September 12," says the AFI president. "All athletes bound for the Japan Asian Games will compete in the final leg of the series."

The AFI chief added that the finale would be an invitational competition. Athletes will be selected based on their rankings. "The final leg of the Indian Athletics Series is by invitation. The athletes will be invited according to their ranking in the respective events."

Sagoo stated that the series has become an important platform for Indian athletes to compete regularly at home. "The Indian Athletics Series received an overwhelming response in the past. It was a good opportunity for athletes to compete in their own backyard."

The rescheduling comes after the successful staging of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, held in Bhubaneswar from June 24 to 28. Meanwhile, preparations for the international season are already underway. The first batch of Indian athletes will leave for Europe on Saturday to fine-tune their preparations for the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Glasgow on July 23. According to Sagoo, the second batch of athletes is scheduled to leave early next week.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kerala’s Asian Games medallist Ancy Sojan obliterated the women’s long jump record that has stood for more than two decades, with a brilliant performance at the 65th National Inter-State Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday evening.

The 25-year-old international long jumper entered her name in the record books in her fifth attempt as she landed at the 6.88m mark to improve the long-standing record of 6.83m set by Anju Bobby George in 2004 in Athens.

“My goal today was to record a personal best of 6.75m, which I recorded four weeks ago in Ranchi,” a jubilant Ancy Sojan said of getting into a good rhythm from the word go. She began her record-breaking campaign with a jump of 6.73m. Her second jump was no mark. Her third jump was 6.67m, while her fourth jump was 6.72m. She was on cloud nine when the electronic scoreboard flashed 6.88m. Her last and sixth jump was 6.69m.

Ancy Sojan dedicated her record-breaking gold medal performance to her father. “He wanted someone in the family to be a national record holder. The gold medal will be a precious gift to him," the elated long jumper said.

Last year, she was struggling with health issues. She had to take a break. “It was mentally and physically challenging. I’m happy to have made a comeback, that too ahead of the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games starting September 19,” says Ancy Sojan.

Maharashtra’s seasoned high jumper Sarvesh Anil Kushare, 31, was the second athlete on Saturday who etched his name in record books as he improved the men’s high jump record to 2.31m. The previous national record of 2.29m was set by Tejaswin Shankar in 2018.

Sarvesh further raised the bar to 2.35m but wasn’t successful. “I was feeling good. I got a big boost when I cleared 2.27m. Thereafter, I pushed and made an attempt to break the national record,” says the newly crowned high jumper. He broke the national record on his third attempt.

Away from the track, the men’s 1500m meet record of 3:40.10 set by Bahadur Prasad in Chennai was also erased by Yoonus Shah of Uttar Pradesh. He clocked 3:37.55 secs. Yashas P. also improved the meet record in the men’s 400m hurdles. His winning time of 49.14 seconds was better than his previous record of 49.37 seconds.

Several medal winners also achieved the Japan Asian Games qualification mark in their respective events.

Results (Day 4):

Men:

100m (AG Q Time 10.16 seconds): Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 10.28 seconds, Pranav Gaurav (Maharashtra) 10.39 seconds, Laukik Melge (Maharashtra) 10.43 seconds.

1500m: Yoonus Shah (Uttar Pradesh) 3:37.55 secs, Gulveer Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 3:38.31 secs, Rahul Baloda (Rajasthan) 3:40.07 secs.

400m hurdles (AG Q Time 49.41 seconds): Yashas P (Karnataka) 49.14 secs, Santhosh T (Tamil Nadu) 49.14 secs, Aryan Prajwal (Karnataka) 50.95 secs

High jump (AGQ Mark 2.19m): Sarvesh Kushare (Maharashtra) 2.31m (National record), Aadrash Ram (Tamil Nadu) 2.25m, Jesse Sandesh (Karnataka) 2.19m.

Shot put (AGQ Mark 19.41m): Karanveer Singh (Punjab) 20.49m, Samardeep Gill (Madhya Pradesh) 20.40m, Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Punjab) 20.27m.

Women:

100m: Sudeshna Shivankar (Maharashtra) 11.59 seconds, Sneha SS (Karnataka) 11.65 seconds, Amasha De Silva (Sri Lanka) 11.70 seconds.

1500m (AG Q Time 4:19.45): Parul Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 4:20.45 secs, Ankita (Uttarakhand) 4:20.78 secs, Pooja (Haryana) 4:21.48 secs.

400m hurdles (AGQ Time 57.21 seconds): Vithya Ramraj (Tamil Nadu) 56.07 secs, Anu R (Kerala) 56.54 secs, Sinchal (Karnataka) 58.90 secs. Series 6.73m, f, 6,67m, 6.72m, 6.88m, 6.69m

Long jump (AG Q Mark 6.48m): Ancy Sojan (Kerala) 6.88m (NR previous national record of 6.83m was set by Anju Bobby George in 2024), Shaili Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 6.67m, Mubassina Mohammed (Lakshadweep) 6.53m.

Javelin throw (AGQ Mark 57.62m) Annu Rani (Uttar Pradesh) 56.74m, Karishma Sanil (Karnataka) 53.06m, Uma Chaudhary (Rajasthan) 53.06m.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Six male triple jumpers were among 13 aspiring athletes breaching Japan Asian Games qualification standards in their respective events on the third day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection committee will decide the Asian Games-bound contingent after the conclusion of the Bhubaneswar competition. Two athletes will represent in each of the track and field events.

Hammer throwers set the ball rolling in the evening session. Punjab’s Damneet Singh hurled an iron ball to a distance of 69.72m to win gold and a better Asian Games qualification mark of 69.12m. Rajasthan’s Praveen Kumar's silver-winning efforts of 69.58m were also good enough to qualify for the Asian Games.

After the hammer throw final, a dominant performance was witnessed at the discus throw arena. Three Haryana throwers---Seema, Sanya Yadav, and Nidhi—finished in that order, bettering the Asian Games qualification mark of 55.48m.

Men’s triple jump was the third field event that saw the top six leading jumpers achieve the Asian Games qualification mark of 16.28m. Praveen Chithravel won gold with an opening jump of 16.92m,

Away from the field events, national record holder Tejas Shrise was a comfortable winner in the men’s 110m hurdles. His winning time of 13.61 seconds was better than the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games qualification time of 13.63 seconds.

The women’s 400m hurdles heats saw Vithya Ramraj of Tamil Nadu posting a time of 56.69 seconds to stay on course for an Asian Games berth.

Results (Day 3):

Men

110m hurdles (AG Q Time 13.63 seconds): Tejas Shirse (Maharashtra) 13.61 seconds, Manav R (Tamil Nadu) 13.66 seconds, Krishik M (Karnataka) 13.69 seconds.

Hammer throw (AG Q Mark 69.12m): Damneet Singh (Punjab) 69.72m, Praveen Kumar (Rajasthan) 69.58m, Ashish Jakhar (Haryana) 67.61m.

Triple jump (AG Q Mark 16.28m): Praveen Chithravel (Tamil Nadu) 16.92m, Karthik U (Kerala) 16.80m, Selva Prabhu (Tamil Nadu) 16.79m.

4x100m relay: Odisha 39.92 seconds, Tamil Nadu 40.02 seconds, Maharashtra 40.37 seconds.

Women:

Discus throw (AG Q Mark 55.48m): Seema (Haryana) 59.73m, Sanya Yadav (Haryana) 56.05m, Nidhi (Haryana) 55.92m.

21km race walk (AG Q time 1:37:20.00): Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:05.00, Reshma Patel (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:48.00, Sejla Anil Singh (Maharashtra) 1:46:31.00.

4x100m relay: Karnataka 44.75 seconds, Tamil Nadu 45.07 seconds, Maharashtra 46.21 seconds. Odisha’s women’s team didn’t finish.

Mixed 4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu 3:23.51 seconds, Punjab 3:23.54 seconds, Rajasthan 3:23.85 seconds.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Karnataka’s aspiring pole vaulter Sindhushree G. was among several athletes who successfully achieved the qualification standards in their respective events in the upcoming Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on the second day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Sindhushree, 26, fulfilled the mark in style on a day when as many as seventeen athletes booked their berths for the Asian Games starting September 19 by achieving the qualification criteria set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

On her way to winning the gold medal, she improved the national record to 4.25m, which was better than the Asian Games qualification mark of 4.10m. The previous record of 4.23m was set recently by Baranica, who settled for silver with a height of 4.20m.

Sindhushree also bettered the meet record of 4.10m set by Pavithra Venkatesh in 2023. Jubilant Sindhushree said she was mentally prepared to book an Asian Games berth. “I had trained hard, but the national record was a bonus,” says Sindhushree.

Nitika Akare of Madhya Pradesh won the bronze medal (4.10m) and was the third pole vaulter to achieve the Asian Games qualification mark of 4.10m.

The women’s 200m and 800m were two track events of the day in which the top three finishers bettered the Asian Games qualification mark. All three medal winners in women’s shot put also achieved the Asian Games qualification mark.

Odisha’s star sprinter Animesh Kujur was the only athlete in the men’s 200m to achieve the Asian Games mark of 20.88 seconds. His gold medal-winning time was 20.74 seconds.

In the highly competitive men’s two-lap race, Mohammed Afsal of Kerala (1:48.57 secs) and Krishan Kumar from Haryana (1:48.82 secs) finished first and second, respectively. Both athletes bettered the Asian Games qualification time of 1:48.80 seconds. “My goal is to improve my fitness to clock below 1:45 for the 800m in the near future,” says Mohammed Afsal.

Results (Day 2):

Men:

200m (AG Q Time 20.88 seconds): Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 20.74 seconds, Dondapathi Mruthy Jayaram (Odisha) 20.97 secs, Jishnu Prasad PK (Kerala) 21.18 secs.

800m (AG Q Time 1:48.80 seconds): Mohammed Afsal P (Kerala) 1:48.57 secs, Krishan Kumar (Haryana) 1:48.82 secs, Prathamesh Deore (Maharashtra) 1:48.89 secs.

Discus throw (AG Q Mark 60.13m): Kirpal Singh (Chandigarh) 57.37m, Nirbhay Singh (Haryana) 55.26m, Arjun (Delhi) 54.90m.

21km race walk (AG Q Time 1:25:37.00): Sevin Sebastian (Tamil Nadu) 1:31:49.00, Sachin Bohra (Uttarakhand) 1:32:10.00, Ningthoukhongja (Manipur) 1:32:24.00.

Decathlon (AG Q Mark 7250 points): Thowfeeq N (Kerala) 7276 points, Kushal Mohite (Maharashtra) 7251 points, Jasbir Nayak (Odisha) 7131 points.

Women:

200m (AG Q Time 23.70 seconds): Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) 23.14 seconds, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 23.40 seconds, Prakruthi Poopa Rao (Karnataka) 23.58 seconds.

800m (AG Q Time 2:05.21 seconds): Gowthami Jayaraman (Tamil Nadu) 2:04.17, Pooja (Haryana) 2:04.37 secs, Lili Das (Uttarakhand) 2:04.59 secs.

Shot put (AG Q Mark 16.25m): Manpreet Kaur (Haryana) 17.75m, Krishna Jayashankar (Tamil Nadu) 16.69m, Srishti Vig (Delhi) 16.96m.

Pole vault (AG Q Mark 4.10m): Sindhushree G (Karnataka) 4.25m (NR previous national record 4.23m set by Baranica), Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) 4.20m, Nitika Akare (Madhya Pradesh) 4.10m.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Star sprinters, Animesh Kujur and Unnathi Bollanda, booked their berths to the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, achieving the qualifying marks in the respective 200m races in the 65th National Senior Inter-State Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

While Animesh and Unnathi sprinted past the qualifying mark on the track, Sindhushree G came up with a record-breaking leap of 4.25 metres to set a new National Record in the women's pole vault. Sindhushree improved on the record held by Rosy Meena Paulraj, who soared to 4.21m on October 15, 2022, in the Indian Championships in Bengaluru.

Baranica Flangovan joined Sindhushree on the Asian Games-bound flight by achieving the qualifying mark in the women's Pole Vault. She cleared 4.20m on Thursday to book her ticket to Japan for the Asian Games starting on September 19.

Animesh Kujur clocked 20.87 seconds in the Men’s 200M semifinals and booked his ticket for the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday. Later, in the 200m final, Kujur won the gold medal in 20.74 seconds to finish first.

In the corresponding women's 200m, Unnathi Bollanda delivered a stunning run to book her place for the Asian Games 2026 by clocking 23.658 seconds. Harita clocked 23.55s in the Women’s 200m and punched her ticket to the Asian Games.

A day after Jyothi Yarraji made the qualifying mark, Tejas Shirse qualified for the Asian Games, clocking 13.43s in the men's 110m hurdles at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, breaching the Asian Games qualifying mark of 13.63s.

In the Men's Decathlon, Thowfeeq N of Kerala claimed the gold medal with 7276 points, finishing ahead of Kushal Mohite of Maharashtra (7251 pts), who took the silver medal. Both cleared the Asian Games qualification mark of 7250 points in a nail-biting finish.

Two athletes breached the 16.25m mark in the Women's Shot Put in Bhubaneswar. Manpreet Kaur of Haryana and Srishti Vig of Delhi joined Krishna Jayasankar in clearing the Asian Games qualification standard in this event.

On Wednesday, extraordinary performances by three talented athletes---pole vaulter Dev Meena, teenage hammer thrower Anuskha Yadav, and sprinter-cum-hurdler Jyothi Yarraji---further brightened Bhubaneswar’s floodlit Kalinga Stadium on the opening day.

The three extraordinary performances were the highlights of the evening session of the meet, which started on an exciting note, as several athletes achieved qualification marks in their respective events for the 2026 Asian Games to be held at Aichi–Nagoya in Japan.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Extraordinary performances by three talented athletes---pole vaulter Dev Meena, teenage hammer thrower Anuskha Yadav, and sprinter-cum-hurdler Jyothi Yarraji---further brightened Bhubaneswar’s floodlit Kalinga Stadium on the opening day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships on Wednesday.

The three extraordinary performances were the highlights of the evening session of the meet, which started on an exciting note, as several athletes achieved qualification marks in their respective events for the 2026 Asian Games to be held at Aichi–Nagoya in Japan.

Dev Meena, representing Madhya Pradesh, raised the bar to 5.46m, which was better than his own national record, jointly held with training partner Kuldeep Kumar. His Wednesday’s performance was also better than the Asian Games qualification mark of 5.45m.

It is good to improve the national record before going to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, says the newly crowned champion. “The competition was challenging; nonetheless, I’m excited to have enhanced my profile,” says the pole vaulter from Madhya Pradesh.

The top three pole vaulters also improved the meet record of 5.20m set by M Gowtham in 2025.

At the throwing arena, 18-year-old Anushka Yadav was the cynosure of all eyes as she erased the national and meet record. On her way to winning gold, she also booked a berth for the 2026 Asian Games.

Anushka Yadav’s winning throw of 67.02m was better than the National record of 65.25m set by Sarita A Singh in 2017. The meet record of 65.03m was set by Rachna in 2023.

“I’m thankful to my family for all the support as I was on the injured list earlier in March,” jubilant Anushka says of setting the senior national record. “I can’t express my happiness of booking a berth to board a flight to the Japan Asian Games,” says the promising thrower from Uttar Pradesh.

Asian Games silver medallist and national record holder in women’s 100m hurdles, Jyoti Yarraji, was emotional about making a big impression on her comeback after a long hiatus due to injury. “It's sheer Irony that I got injured on June 24 last year, and after 12 long agonising months of rehab, I’m making a comeback—that too with sub-13 seconds for the 100m hurdles,” says Jyothi Yarraji of winning the women's 100m hurdles title on Wednesday.

Jyothi Yarraji had bettered the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34 seconds in the heats, and her gold-medal-winning time was 12.99 seconds.

Nandhini K of Tamil Nadu won silver with a time of 13.22 secs and was the second hurdler to achieve the Asian Games qualification mark.

Tamil Nadu’s triple jumper Lasha Ilango won the gold medal with a leap of 13.89m, improving the meet record and bettering the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34m.

Earlier, in the morning session, star distance runner Gulveer Singh was a comfortable winner of the men’s 5,000m track race. In the men’s 800m heats, more than ten athletes improved the Asian Games qualification mark of 1:48.80 seconds.

Results:

Men: 5,000m (Asian Games Qualification Time 13:39.18 secs): Gulveer Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 13:52.92 secs, Abhishek Pal (Uttar Pradesh) 13:54.18 secs, Harmanjot Singh (Punjab) 13:54.60 secs.

Pole vault (AG Q Mark 5.45m): Dev Meena (Madhya Pradesh) 5.46m (NR improves his own national record 5.45m), Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Kuldeep Kumar (Madhya Pradesh) 5.20m.

Women:

5,000m (AG Q Time 15:36.58 secs): Seema (Himachal Pradesh) 16:11.04 secs, Bharti (Haryana) 16:17.10 secs, Ravina Gayakwad (Maharashtra)16:32.92 secs.

Triple jump (AG Q Mark 13:34m): Lasha Ilango (Tamil Nadu) 13.89m, Niharika Vashisht (Punjab) 13.22m, Mallala Anusha (Andhra Pradesh) 13.13m.

100m hurdles (AG Q Time 13.34 secs): Jyothi Yarraji (Andhra Pradesh) 12.99 seconds, Nandhini K (Tamil Nadu) 13.22 secs, Pragyan P Sahu (Odisha) 13.48 secs.

Hammer Throw (AG Q Mark 61.72m): Anushka Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 67.02m, Tanya Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 61.70m, Harshita Sehrawat (Delhi) 60.92m.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Teenager Anushka Yadav stole the spotlight on the opening day of the 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 in Bhubaneswar, shattering the women's hammer throw national record and securing qualification for the 2026 Asian Games with a sensational performance at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old produced a series of impressive throws. She started with 62.07m, easily surpassing the Asian Games qualifying mark of 61.72m. She then improved to 65.64m before achieving the best throw of her career on her final attempt, sending the hammer to 67.02m.

This effort broke the long-standing national record of 65.25m set by Sarita Singh nine years ago and made Anushka the new national record holder for India. Her remarkable performance also highlighted her as one of the nation's most exciting young talents in field events.

The day also saw another national record in the men’s pole vault. Dev Kumar Meena continued his impressive rise by clearing 5.46m. This mark improved the national record he had shared with Kuldeep Kumar at 5.45m and met the Asian Games qualification standard. It was Dev's second consecutive performance breaking the national record, showcasing the rapid growth of Indian pole vaulting.

This achievement for Dev Meena came just a month after he shared the national record with Kuldeep Kumar at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where both athletes cleared 5.45m. By going one centimetre higher in Bhubaneswar, Dev now holds the national record alone.

This accomplishment marks Dev's second consecutive national record-breaking performance. It also showcases the impressive progress in Indian men's pole vault. Notably, the national record has been improved five times in less than two years, showing the increasing depth and competitiveness in this event.

Dev showed impressive consistency throughout the competition, successfully clearing the bar at 5.46m. This not only rewrote the record books but also strengthened his standing ahead of important international events.

In the women's triple jump, I. Isha Elango achieved a personal-best leap of 13.89m to assert her dominance in the event. She had already exceeded the Asian Games qualifying standard of 13.34m with a jump of 13.67m earlier in the competition. Elango's best effort placed her third on India's all-time list and made her the fourth-best performer in Asia this season.

Earlier, India's hurdles queen Jyothi Yarraji wasted no time in making a mark on her return after a lengthy injury layoff as she achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 with a controlled run in the opening heats of the women's 100m.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, clocked a competitive 3.14 seconds in her first race of the season.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dev Kumar Meena continued his rapid ascent in Indian athletics by setting a new men's pole vault national record at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Competing at the Kalinga Stadium, the young vaulter cleared 5.46m, breaking the national record and meeting the qualification standard for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Anushka Yadav goes big in hammer throw

There was another national record in women's hammer throw with Anushka Yadav going past the previous mark with a big throw, reaching 65.64 metres in the Inter-State Championships. With this record-breaking throw, Anushka also booked her spot at the Asian Games 2026.

This achievement for Dev Meena came just a month after he shared the national record with Kuldeep Kumar at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where both athletes cleared 5.45m. By going one centimetre higher in Bhubaneswar, Dev now holds the national record alone.

This accomplishment marks Dev's second consecutive national record-breaking performance. It also showcases the impressive progress in Indian men's pole vault. Notably, the national record has been improved five times in less than two years, showing the increasing depth and competitiveness in this event.

Dev showed impressive consistency throughout the competition, successfully clearing the bar at 5.46m. This not only rewrote the record books but also strengthened his standing ahead of important international events.

With the Inter-State Championships being a key qualification event for Indian athletes, this performance greatly enhances Dev's chances of making the Indian squad for the Asian Games.

For a discipline that had long struggled to break previous records, Dev's latest achievement represents a significant milestone. His ongoing progress is one of the most exciting stories in Indian athletics, and the 5.46m clearance indicates that the country’s pole vault standards are reaching new heights.

Earlier, India's hurdle queen Jyothi Yarraji wasted no time in making a mark on her return after a lengthy injury layoff as she achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 with a controlled run in the opening heats of the women's 100m.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, clocked a competitive 3.14 seconds in her first race of the season.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's hurdle queen Jyothi Yarraji wasted no time in making a mark on her return after a lengthy injury layoff as she achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 with a controlled run in the opening heats of the women's 100m hurdles at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, clocked a competitive 3.14 seconds in her first race of the season on the opening day of the Inter-State Nationals.

Jyothi, who has shown immense resilience over the past year, has committed herself to rehabilitation and recovery at Reliance Foundation Sports. She won a silver medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 after being initially disqualified for a false start along with a Chinese athlete, but was later allowed to participate after a review.

The 26-year-old Jyothi, the national record holder in this event, was competing in her first tournament in 2026 after returning from a serious ACL injury that saw her out of action for over a year. Jyothi would be setting her sights on qualifying for the Asian Games again in the 100m hurdles and 200m events.

Nandhini K. clocked a brilliant 13.24s in the Women’s 100m Hurdles to achieve the qualification standard for the Asian Games 2026.

The competition is seeing a host of Commonwealth Games-bound athletes in action, including the likes of Animesh Kujur, Tejas Shirse, Yashas Palaksha, and Murali Sreeshankar. Also making a return to action will be long jump national record holder Jeswin Aldrin, who will jostle with Sreeshankar for a top-of-the-podium finish.

Source: IANS

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Shangyu, June 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India capped a memorable campaign at the Asian Relays Championships 2026 in Shangyu, China, with a gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay after earlier securing silver in the 4x400m mixed relay and bronze in the 4x100m mixed relay at Asian Relay Championship 2026.

The team of Srabani Nanda, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna achieved a season-best time of 43.85 seconds to win gold in the women's 4x100m relay. This marked India's highlight of the championships.

Earlier, India began its campaign with a silver medal in the 4x400m mixed relay. The team, featuring Olympian MR Poovamma, Neeru Pathak, Theerthesh P Shetty, and Barath Sridhar, finished second with a time of 3:17.06, behind Kazakhstan, which took gold in 3:16.75. Hosts China secured bronze in 3:17.20.

This silver was India's second medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the Asian Relays Championships. The team previously won gold in the first edition held in Bangkok in 2024. India's national record in this event stands at 3:12.87, set by Muhammad Anas, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Muhammad Ajmal, and Kiran Pahal at the 2024 National Inter-State Athletics Championships.

India also earned bronze in the 4x100m mixed relay. The team included 200m national record holder Animesh Kujur, Pranav Gurav, Tamanna, and Sneha Shanuvalli. They finished with a time of 41.47 seconds, just 0.12 seconds short of the national record of 41.35 set earlier this year at the World Relays by Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur, and Sneha Shanuvalli.

Thailand won gold in this event with a time of 41.14 seconds, while China secured silver in 41.29 seconds.

The championships were an important international test for Indian relay teams ahead of a busy season that includes the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. India will also host the third edition of the Asian Relays Championships in Chandigarh in 2027.

The first edition of this competition occurred in Bangkok in 2024, where India won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay and silver medals in both the men's and women's 4x400m relay events.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary were presented the Best Athlete Awards, male and female, respectively, at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards here on Saturday evening. Shahnavaz Khan and Pooja were named the Best Emerging Athletes at a glittering ceremony.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya gave away the awards instituted by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). A galaxy of dignitaries, including World Athletics Vice President Adille J. Sumariwalla, Korottage Bimal Prasanna, President of Sri Lanka Athletics, and Mohamed Tholal, Sports Commissioner of the Maldives, were on hand to celebrate excellence across the Indian athletics ecosystem.

“Indian athletics has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last decade, with our athletes delivering world-class performances on the biggest stages. The Indian Athletics Awards are a fitting tribute to the individuals and institutions driving this progress. These awards will further strengthen India's sporting ecosystem,” Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said.

The Indian Athletics Awards night also saw some of the most influential figures in Indian athletics being decorated with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Legendary athletes Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan, P T Usha, and Anju Bobby George were honoured for their extraordinary contributions to Indian athletics over several decades.

AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said the Indian Athletics Awards are a platform to celebrate excellence and recognise the individuals who contribute to the success of Indian athletics. “From athletes and coaches to technical officials, every stakeholder plays a vital role in our journey. These awards will serve as a prestigious honour in Indian athletics,” he said.

Neeraj Chopra said this is a special honour to be recognised among so many outstanding athletes from our country. “Indian athletics is progressing rapidly, and every year we are seeing new talent emerge and perform on the global stage. This award motivates me to strive for excellence and contribute to the sport,” he said.

Parul Chaudhary said the recognition means a lot to her. “Athletics is a sport that demands patience, discipline, and perseverance every single day. I am grateful to my coaches, support staff, and family for their constant support. I hope my journey encourages more young girls to take up athletics and pursue their dreams,” she said.

Shahnawaz Khan said he felt proud. “This is a proud moment and comes as a huge motivation. It encourages me to work harder and continue improving as an athlete. I am grateful to my coaches, family, and everyone who has supported me on this journey,” he said.

Pooja said this recognition gives her confidence and inspires her to aim higher. “Being acknowledged at a national platform like this is very encouraging. I will continue working hard to make the country proud in the years ahead.”

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient PT Usha said Athletics has given her everything in life, and she feels deeply humbled. “Over the years, I have witnessed the tremendous evolution of Indian Athletics, and I am delighted to see young athletes achieving success at the highest levels,” she said.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Anju Bobby George said Indian Athletics has come a long way. “It is heartening to see the sport receiving the attention it deserves. I accept this honour on behalf of everyone who has contributed to my journey. I hope the next generation continues to dream big. I believe our athletes can compete with the world’s best,” she said.

The awards ceremony brought together some of India's biggest athletics stars like Sriram Singh, Charles Borromeo, Chand Ram, and Kamaljit Sandhu, coaches and administrators, and celebrated outstanding performers not only in the 2025 season but also those who have held the banner of Indian Athletics aloft in an earlier era.

Neeraj Chora and Parul Chaudhary were also given Rs. 10 lakh each, while Shahnawaz Khan and Pooja were given Rs. 2.50 lakh each. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners were given Rs. 5 lakh each.

AFI also presented awards across other categories, including Best Coach of the Year, Best State Association of the Year, Best Technical Official of the Year, Best State Supporting Athletics, Organisation Supporting Athletics, and Partner Supporting Athletics.

Award winners:

• Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025 – Neeraj Chopra (Rs. 10,00,000)

• Best Female Athlete of the Year 2025 – Parul Chaudhary (Rs. 10,00,000)

• Best Emerging Male Athlete 2025 – Shahnawaz Khan (Rs. 2,50,000)

• Best Emerging Female Athlete 2025 – Pooja (Rs. 2,50,000)

• Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award – P T Usha (Rs. 5,00,000)

• Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award – Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (Rs. 5,00,000)

• Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award – Anju Bobby George (Rs. 5,00,000)

• Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award – Bahadur Singh Chauhan (Rs. 5,00,000)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after returning to action with a fourth-place finish in the Wanda Diamond League event in Doha, India's legendary javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expressed satisfaction with his performance and said he is looking forward to the remaining season.

Speaking at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards in New Delhi, Chopra expressed happiness at achieving the qualification mark for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

"I am very happy with my performance because I was returning from an injury and competed after a long time. I am pleased with how I performed. This was my first competition of the year, and the rest of the season is still ahead of me," said Chopra, who made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, told IANS on Saturday.

After his encouraging performance on return, Chopra is looking forward to the remaining events in the season. "The momentum takes time to develop. Some throws were good, and some were not good due to distance. So I was fouling them. But as my sessions will be harder and I will work with Javelin more, I will be able to follow those things better," said Chopra.

In the final of the Diamond League event in Doha, Neeraj Chopra produced a best throw of 85.69 metres to finish fourth behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (88.96 m), former Olympic champion Anderson Peters of Granada (86.38), and Curtis Thompson of the United States, who ended third with a throw of 85.99m.

Chopra also expressed his elation over the Athletics Federation of India honouring athletes, current and past, coaches, mentors, and administrators for their contribution to the sport in the Indian Athletics Awards on Saturday.

"I am very happy that the Athletics Federation of India has given such an opportunity to everyone. It was very nice to meet the old athletes and new talents. I enjoyed it a lot," said Neeraj Chopra.

On Saturday, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) presented the Indian Athletics Awards, felicitating legendary athlete and current President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards ceremony on Saturday.

Apart from Usha, former Asian Games decathlon gold medallist Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, former national chief coach Bahadur Singh Chauhan, and World Championships bronze medallist long jumper Anju Bobby George were also presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Expressing her delight after receiving the honour, Usha admitted that the recognition came as a surprise.

"I did not expect to win this award because I did not apply for it. Most of the time in India, you don't get awards if you have not applied for them. This is a very good initiative from my Federation, the AFI," she said.

The awards were introduced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to acknowledge excellence and contributions across various aspects of the sport.

The awards have been conceptualised as a platform to honour current and former athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, sponsors, and all other stakeholders whose contributions have played a vital role in India's growing success on the global athletics stage.

The inaugural edition featured 10 categories, including Best Athlete (Male and Female), Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association, and Lifetime Achievement Award.

PT Usha, known as the 'Queen of Indian Track and Field,' is a legendary sprinter who dominated Asian athletics. Her major achievements include winning 11 Asian Games medals (4 gold, 7 silver), 23 Asian Championship medals, and becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final. She currently serves as the president of the Indian Olympic Association.

Anju Bobby George remains India's only medallist at the World Athletics Championships, having secured a bronze medal in the women's long jump at the 2003 edition in Paris.

Randhawa, one of the pioneers of Indian athletics, claimed the decathlon gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games, while Bahadur Singh Chauhan played a pivotal role in shaping several generations of athletes during his tenure as the national team's chief coach.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra finished fourth in the javelin throw event of the Doha Diamond League event, ending with a season's best throw of 85.69 metres in Doha, Qatar. With his solid effort on Friday, Neeraj Chopra achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held from July 23 to August 2.

This was the season's first Diamond League event for India's legendary athlete Chopra, who is returning from an injury. This was a decent effort by the star Indian athlete, who had delayed his decision over his return to action, asking the Diamond League officials to confirm his participation at the last moment as he continued to assess his recovery from injury. After his final training session convinced both him and his support team that he was ready, the organisers agreed, paving the way for his comeback in Doha.

Chopra, the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, finished behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (88.96 m), former Olympic champion Anderson Peters of Granada (86.38), and Curtis Thompson of the United States, who ended third with a throw of 85.99m. Both Peters and Thompson also came up with their season's best. Pathirage, however, failed to come anywhere close to his personal best of 92.62 achieved at Rome two weeks back on June 4. Fellow Indian Sachin Yadav failed to qualify for the final.

Indian fans were eagerly waiting for Neeraj Chopra's return to the season at his first Diamond League event of the year. However, they were left disappointed as the Indian star, who won a historic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games and followed it up with a silver in Paris in 2024, failed to recreate his usual magic and had to be satisfied with fourth position.

The 29-year-old Chopra, a former Diamond League Champion, started the final with a foul and threw the spear to a modest 82.77m in the second round. His next throw was his best for the day as he crossed 85.69.

Chopra, who has finished first in five Diamond League meets so far, failed to improve on that as he managed only 83.45 in his fourth throw and fouled his fifth and last attempt. Chopra has a personal best of 90.23metres.

Usually, his first attempt of the day is his best, but on Friday, that was not the case as Chopra overstepped and then failed to replicate his best. This is still a good outing for Chopra as it allows him to assess his recovery ahead of the season's two mega events -- the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan.

As part of his recovery programme, Chopra had trained at the Swiss Olympic Training Centre in Magglingen, a location he credited for providing the ideal atmosphere to rebuild both physically and technically ahead of his return.

“I was in Magglingen, a Swiss Olympic Training Centre, there. I really like that place; it's in the mountains, and very quiet, so you can focus on your things and techniques,” he mentioned.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Paralympic high jump champion Praveen Kumar has already set his sights on the next cycle, declaring the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games as his primary target as he looks to build on his growing list of international achievements.

Reflecting on his rise in para athletics, Praveen admitted he never imagined reaching the heights he has achieved.

“No, I didn’t think that I would reach this far," he said in an upcoming episode of the Quest Talk podcast by iQOO. "There are many other targets left. So, I have to work on them as well. One of those goals is winning gold at the World Para Athletics Championships. In the World Championship, I don’t have gold yet. So in 2027, I will try to get gold in this,” Praveen said.

However, his primary focus remains on the next Paralympic Games. “And in 2028, LA is my main target,” he added.

Two-time Paralympic medalist Praveen also recounted how his journey in high jump began unexpectedly during his school days when he was studying in Class 9. “I was in the 9th class. I found out that there was a sports day for athletics. I had to choose an event, but I didn’t know what events were there,” he recalled.

After asking friends for advice, they suggested the high jump because of his volleyball background. “I used to play volleyball with them. I was a spiker and a defender. They told me my jump was good and said I should try high jump once,” he said.

His friends improvised a crossbar using a wooden stick, and Praveen cleared it comfortably. “They brought a wooden stick and held it from both sides. I crossed it at their chest and shoulder height. They told me to do this event,” he said.

The challenge, however, was that the competition selections had already ended two weeks earlier. School authorities initially refused to let him participate. “They directly refused me. They said this was for able-bodied athletes and that I could have problems because I was disabled. My mother asked me what happened. I told her I wanted to play, but they were not letting me because I was disabled,” he said.

Following intervention from his family and school management, Praveen was given another chance, but only after assuring officials that he would take responsibility for himself. “I told them, take my application, and I will take the responsibility. You won’t face any problem, but let me compete,” he said.

Even on competition day, some competitors objected to his participation. “They told the referee not to let me compete because I was disabled. But the teacher told them, ‘He will jump with one leg, while you have both legs. You should be able to do better,” Praveen recalled.

The objections were overruled, and Praveen went on to win a medal in his first-ever high jump competition. “In my mind, I got the medal, and what I wanted had happened. It was my first medal, and I still have it with me today,” he said.

That medal marked the beginning of a journey that eventually led him to Paralympic glory. Now, with a World Championship gold and Los Angeles 2028 firmly in his sights, Praveen is determined to add new chapters to that remarkable story.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s javelin ace Neeraj Chopra believes the absence of the Olympics or World Championships this season will do little to reduce the standard of competition he faces, insisting that the upcoming Commonwealth Games will be as demanding as any global event.

Speaking during the Wanda Diamond League media interaction in Doha on Thursday, the Olympic champion said India's busy athletics calendar, coupled with the depth of talent expected at the Commonwealth Games, leaves no room to treat 2026 as a less challenging season.

Although Chopra admitted there is marginally less mental pressure without the sport's two biggest championships on the schedule, he stressed that the physical demands remain unchanged. With both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games on his calendar, the Indian javelin star said the focus remains on performing at the highest level throughout the year.

“No Olympics or World Championship this year, but as an Indian athlete, we have the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. So this is also a very busy season for us. And yes, maybe it's a little more mentally relaxed for us if it's not, like, a big game or championship. But physically, we always push ourselves to give our best every year. So that's the only difference, like mentally we are a little bit, I think, relaxed.”

The Commonwealth Games javelin competition is already shaping up to be one of the strongest fields outside the Olympics and World Championships. While the question put to Chopra referenced Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, the Indian was quick to remind everyone that the list of contenders extends even further.

“Yes, even (Anderson) Peters from Grenada.”

He then expanded on why he expects the competition to be exceptionally fierce. “Even (Keshorn) Walcott, and because all throwers are over 90 metres. So, the Commonwealth will be no less than the Olympics or the World Championships. It will be a really tough competition."

Beyond discussing the season ahead, Chopra also offered an insight into the technical challenges of competing in Doha, where changing wind conditions have often influenced performances. The Qatar capital has witnessed several of the longest throws in history, including Chopra's own maiden 90-metre effort, but he explained that favourable winds alone do not guarantee big distances.

According to Chopra, athletes must understand how to work with the conditions, particularly by maintaining the correct release angle rather than throwing too flat.

“Okay, I mean, sometimes I also throw against the wind. That was not good. It's really hard to even sprint. I mean, sometimes even high jumpers struggle from this side. But we really need to understand how we can use the wind. I mean, I don't think we can use that much in Javelin. But for runway speed, it really helps.

“And also, if we throw a little bit, our point is a little bit high, and the wind pushes a little bit from behind, then it helps. But if you throw really flat, then I don't think it will help. So, you need a mind to throw if you want to use wind,” he stated.

With another busy campaign underway, Chopra may be entering a season without an Olympic or World Championship title on the line, but he expects the level of competition and the demands placed on him to remain every bit as intense.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tokyo Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has shed light on the decision to end his coaching partnership with javelin legend Jan Zelezny, revealing that the move was driven more by practicality than performance.

Speaking during the Wanda Diamond League media interaction in Doha on Thursday, Chopra said that while working with the three-time Olympic champion helped him achieve the long-awaited 90-metre milestone, he eventually decided to return to a setup centred around familiarity, flexibility, and his natural throwing style.

Chopra explained that Zelezny’s coaching methods required long training blocks at a single location, which became increasingly difficult to sustain. Following last year's World Championships in Tokyo, both agreed it was time to move in a different direction, with the Indian star reuniting with one of his first coaches.

"I worked with Jan Zelezny. He was a great athlete and a really good coach. But we worked on a few things. I'm happy that I broke the 90m barrier with Zelezny. Last year, after Tokyo, because we work on very specific things, I had to stay in one place all season. That was a little bit impossible for me. Then we decided, after Tokyo, okay, maybe I need to work with my ideas,” Chopra said.

“Now I work with the Indian coach. He's my senior. When I started javelin, I started with him. He knows my story from the last 15-16 years. Now we work on my technique. We are not working on anything specific, very deep, anything. I'm working on my natural technique. I was talking to him, like, okay, let's start training together. And he knows my training plans and everything. Now we work together, and my physio is always with me. He's been with me for the last 8-9 years. I have a good team. I feel very good,” he added.

The change marks a return to a more familiar support system, with Chopra placing his trust in a coach who has known him since the early stages of his development. Rather than overhauling his action, the emphasis is now on refining the technique that has already made him an Olympic and world champion while maintaining continuity with the rest of his long-standing support staff.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Neeraj Chopra has revealed that his return to competitive action at the Wanda Diamond League in Doha was confirmed only days before the event, with the Olympic champion requesting organisers to allow him extra time before committing to the season opener.

Speaking during the pre-event media interaction on Thursday, Chopra said he asked Diamond League officials to confirm his participation at the last moment as he continued to assess his recovery from injury. After his final training session convinced both him and his support team that he was ready, the organisers agreed, paving the way for his comeback in Doha.

Explaining why he waited until the final stages before entering the competition, Chopra admitted that returning too early after injury was never part of the plan. The Indian javelin thrower reflected on the setbacks that followed his decision to compete at the World Championships in Tokyo despite not being fully fit and explained how he and his support staff took a far more cautious approach this time.

“It is always amazing to be back in competitions, in Doha especially. I am a little bit nervous speaking in front of so many people after such a long time. I had some injury last year before the Tokyo World Championships. We worked a lot, and I also competed in Tokyo, but that was not a good decision because I knew I had some problem,s but that was the last competition, so I decided to compete there.

“In an athlete's life, if we have one injury, we try to save that injury and get another one. I injured my ankle, then somewhere in the shoulders. Then I sat with my team, my physio, then we worked on every part. We started throwing one and a half months ago, we took our time and I choose to Doha. I asked them if it was possible for me to let them know in a very short period, like just a week ago. They said yes and we decided after my last session to compete in Doha,” Chopra told the reporters here.

As part of his recovery programme, Chopra trained at the Swiss Olympic Training Centre in Magglingen, a location he credited for providing the ideal atmosphere to rebuild both physically and technically ahead of his return.

“I was in Magglingen, a Swiss Olympic Training Centre there. I really like that place; it's in the mountains, and very quiet, so you can focus on your things and techniques,” he mentioned.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has revealed that he rarely revisits the video of the record-breaking 90m throw that made headlines at the Doha Diamond League last year, insisting it was far from his best effort technically.

Speaking during the Wanda Diamond League media interaction in Doha on Thursday, the Indian javelin star said he prefers studying his qualification-round throws because they better reflect the rhythm and technique he strives to achieve, unlike the more aggressive approach he often adopts in finals.

Although Chopra finally crossed the long-awaited 90-metre barrier in Doha last season, he believes the landmark throw still had room for improvement. The reigning world champion explained that while the release was explosive, his lower-body mechanics were not at their optimum, leaving him convinced that greater distances are possible if every aspect of the throw comes together.

"Technically, the throw was not that good; it was really fast from the arm, but if I could do better with the lower body, maybe 2–3m more.... I haven't looked at that video many times. I really like my throws in the qualification rounds, whether at the Olympics or the world championships, because I feel really relaxed and can throw really far.

“But whenever I compete in finals or the main competitions, I always try very hard, really aggressively, and I forget my techniques. So I don't like to see my finals on repeat, and I prefer to see my qualification-round throws. They're technically better,” Chopra expressed.

Rather than drawing confidence from his biggest throws, the 27-year-old analysed performances in which he feels relaxed and technically sound, believing they provide a more accurate blueprint for future success.

Doha remains one of the most memorable venues of Chopra's career, not only because it marked his first throw beyond 90 metres but also because it produced a thrilling duel with Germany's Julian Weber. While Weber eventually out-threw him on the night, Chopra said he took genuine satisfaction from seeing his long-time rival achieve a breakthrough after years of perseverance.

“That was really amazing that I broke the 90m barrier last year. Suddenly, after my throw, Julian (Weber) threw further than me. But I am happy for him because he also struggled. He threw 88m in front of me in 2016, and it took a lot of time for him too. I was happy for him,” Chopra added.

As he prepares to begin another season in Doha, Chopra remains focused less on distances already achieved and more on refining the technical details he believes can unlock even bigger throws in the future.

Source: IANS

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Surat, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Haryana’s international runner Kiran Pahal was a comfortable winner in the women’s 400m in the 12th leg of the Indian Athletics Series held in Surat on Tuesday. Kiran Pahal, 25, clocked 53.49 seconds to secure his place atop the podium.

Kiran's season best of 52.89 seconds was clocked recently at the Ludhiana leg of the Indian Athletics Series. She competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and has a personal best of 50.92 seconds for the 400m.

The men’s 400m title went to Pradeep S. of Tamil Nadu. His winning time was 48.41 seconds.

Haryana’s Naveen Kumar Dagar made a comeback to competition after a long gap. He won the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 9:09.80 secs.

Charu Shoukeen of Delhi emerged as the fastest female in the event, winning the women's 100m in 12.29 secs. Heeral Johri of Madhya Pradesh finished second in 12.56 secs while Chaarvi Poojari of Uttar Pradesh took the third spot in 12.79 secs.

Results:

Men: 400m: Pradeep S (Tamil Nadu) 48.41 secs, Brajesh Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 48.70 secs, Vedant Sananse (Maharashtra) 48.85 secs.

800m: Nilkantha Ray (Army) 1:50.45, Shiva Tomar (Uttar Pradesh) 1:50.78, Aman Kumar (Haryana) 1:51.98.

400m hurdles: Nikhil Bhardwaj (Navy) 52.69 secs, Sunil Mourya (Maharashtra) 52.92 secs, Rakshith R (NCOE Bangaluru) 53.80 secs.

3000m steeplechase: Naveen Kumar Dagar (Haryana) 9:09.80 secs, Ashish Pal (All India Police) 9:21.28 secs, Raj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) 9:21.85 secs.

Long jump: Avinash Kumar (Haryana) 7.72m, Lakhveer Singh (Punjab) 7.58m, Bhupender Singh (Railway Sports) 7.56m.

Triple jump: Jay Shah (Maharashtra) 15.68m, Vivek Gupta (Maharashtra) 15.44m, Bhuva Kailas (Gujarat) 14.78m.

Javelin throw: Aditya (Haryana) 67.74m, Sarvesh Bharat (Maharashtra) 66.40m, Nitesh Yadav (Army) 65.05m.

Women

100m: Charu Shoukeen (Delhi) 12.29 secs, Heeral Johri (Madhya Pradesh) 12.56 secs, Chaarvi Poojari (Uttar Pradesh) 12.79 secs.

400m: Kiran Pahal (Haryana) 53.49 secs, Akanksha Gavade (Maharashtra) 58.70 secs, Rama Tanwar (Rajasthan) 1:02.21 secs.

800m: Amandeep Kaur (Punjab) 2:18.88, Anjali (Uttar Pradesh) 2:19.94, Anuva Das (West Bengal) 2:20.15.

3000m steeplechase: Kumari Parru (Rajasthan) 11:05.58 secs, Saloni (Rajasthan) 11:12.84 secs, Mori Vandana (Gujarat) 11:17.08 secs.

Triple jump: Aleena T Saji (Kerala) 12.88m, Arshdeep Kaur (Punjab) 12.67m, Jenimol Joy (All India Police) 12.42m.

U20

Men: 100m: Sarthak Rajendra (Maharashtra) 11.26 secs, Archit Sanjay (Maharashtra) 11.53 secs, Ved Patel (Gujarat) 11.89 secs.

400m: Himanshu Rajendra (Gujarat) 47.66 secs, Sagar Saini (Haryana) 48.74 secs, Ranjeet (Madhya Pradesh) 49.15 secs.

800m: Rohit Bhil (Gujarat) 2:01.15, Umesh Tamkhane (Maharashtra) 2:11.27, Aman Kumar (Haryana) 2:11.98.

U20:

Women: 100m: Kajal (Gujarat) 12.02 secs, Vala Roshanba (Gujarat) 12.17 secs, Mihika Vaibhav (Maharashtra) 12.99 secs.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the El Nino threat looms, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday stressed the need for advance contingency planning in rain-deficient districts, while also pushing for increased acreage under cotton and pulses.

In a high-level weekly agriculture review meeting with senior officials held at Krishi Bhawan here, a detailed review was conducted of the nationwide preparations for Kharif 2026.

During the meeting, while discussing the possible El Nino situation, officials were directed to ensure complete preparations in advance in those districts where there is a likelihood of low rainfall or uneven distribution of rains.

“Such districts should be identified, and crop-wise contingency plans should be prepared in collaboration with state governments, so that in the event of any weather-related challenge, farmers can be immediately provided with alternatives, advice, and assistance,” Chouhan said.

While reviewing the crop-wise targets, sowing progress, and state-wise preparations for Kharif 2026, there was a special discussion on increasing cotton production.

“Emphasis was placed on promoting measures such as scientific methods, selection of appropriate varieties, intercropping, mulching, and moisture conservation on a large scale, so that both cotton productivity and farmers' income can increase,” the minister said in a post on X.

There was also a detailed discussion on the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission.

“Our effort is to make the country increasingly self-reliant in pulses like pigeon pea, black gram, and green gram, and to secure farmers' income,” said the minister.

The government is already preparing for a weaker monsoon due to the El Nino phenomenon. India is better positioned to withstand the impact of a potentially weak monsoon and emerging El Nino conditions this year, backed by higher reservoir levels, record foodgrain stocks and structural improvements in the economy.

Reservoir storage levels stood at 30.4 per cent of full reservoir capacity in May 2026, higher than the average 25.1 per cent recorded during previous El Nino years between 2015-16 and 2023-24, according to latest data.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, June 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Odisha’s Dondapati M. won the men’s 100m title with a time of 10.56 secs as the sprinters from Odisha took the spotlight in the Kolkata leg of the Indian Athletics Series held at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Monday. He also finished second in the men’s 200m.

The winner of the men’s 200m was Astik Pradhan of Odisha. His winning time was 21.29 secs. Mousumi Roy Uttam, representing Odisha, was the winner of the women’s 100m race. Her winning time was 12.06 secs.

Athletes from Railways, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Police, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra won gold medals in the event, which is part of a new domestic series of 16 regional meets started by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) this year to provide a competitive environment to local athletes.

The series started at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on April 4 and will end with the 16th stage in September at ABG Foundation in Bengaluru. In a year where every athlete is aiming to earn that qualifying mark for the Asian and Commonwealth Games, these meets will help them to attain these marks without much travelling.

Results

Men:

100m: Dondapati M (Odisha) 10.56 secs, Vignesh A (Madhya Pradesh) 10.73 secs, Shiv Kumar Soren (Jharkhand) 10.80 secs.

200m: Astik Pradhan (Odisha) 21.29 secs, Dondapati M (Odisha) 21.41 secs, Aryan Ekka (Odisha) 21.90 secs.

400m: Mijo Chacko Kurian (Air Force) 46.52 secs, Tushar Kanti Manna (Navy) 46.82 secs, Buddhadeb Bauri (West Bengal) 47.29 secs.

800m: Shyam Milan Bind (Uttar Pradesh) 1:49.93 secs, Sahil Khan (Rajasthan) 1:51.90 secs, MD Mahasin (West Bengal) 1:53.51 secs.

5,000m: Ravi Gulia (Railway Sports) 14:09.94 secs, Ajay (Haryana) 14:19.79 secs, Satish Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) 14:23.80 secs.

Discus throw: Ujjwal (Haryana) 48.57m, Nirmal Jena (Odisha) 46.71m, Harpreet Singh (Punjab) 43.87m.

Javelin throw: Anil Rohidas (All India Police) 62.55m, Amit Majumder (West Bengal) 62.18m, Manish Singh (Bihar) 61.01m.

Long jump: Jiwanmukti Bilung (Odisha) 7.28m, Bhupender Singh (Railway Sports) 7.17m, Hemanga Borgohain (Assam) 7.07m.

Women:

100m: Mousumi Roy Uttam (Odisha) 12.06 secs, Swathi Rongali (JSW) 12.20 secs, Tamashree Mishra (West Bengal) 12.32 secs.

400m: Punitha Durairajan (Tamil Nadu) 56.11 secs, Aditi Banerjee (West Bengal) 56.96 secs, Gurdeep Kaur (Punjab) 58.30 secs.

5,000m: Sanjivani Jadhav (Maharashtra) 16:47.16 secs, Harmilan Bains (Chandigarh) 16:47.43 secs, Sonam Parmar (IOCL) 16:49.34 secs.

Long jump: Rimpi (Assam) 6.28m, Munmun (Assam) 5.88m, Bidisha Kundu (West Bengal) 5.85m.

U20: Men:

100m: Tipan Das (West Bengal) 10.96 secs, Mohit Mistry (West Bengal) 11.00 secs, Koushik Gogoi (Assam) 11.09 secs

200m: Mohammad Reyan (Odisha) 22.42 secs, Lastly Suchiang (Meghalaya) 22.50 secs, Yiarmanwill R (Meghalaya) 22.81 secs.

5,000m: Gopi Saroj (Karnataka) 14:50.24 secs, Balaram Mandal (West Bengal) 15:33.82 secs, Neeraj Negi (Uttarakhand) 16:50.25 secs.

Long jump: Jyotishman B (Assam) 6.81m, Sanoyaj Mondal (West Bengal) 6.79m, Soham Kumar Biswas (West Bengal) 6.76m.

Javelin throw: Debashish Adhikary (West Bengal) 63.17m, Manoj S Chavan (Maharashtra) 61.55m, Narugopal Biswas (West Bengal) 59.39m.

U20

Women:

100m: Archita Banerjee (West Bengal) 12.13 secs, Anushka Kar (West Bengal) 12.20, Riya Roy (West Bengal) 12.85 secs.

Source: IANS

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Doha, June 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra will launch his 2026 athletics season at the Doha Diamond League in Qatar on Friday after organisers confirmed his participation in the men's javelin throw event through the official entry list released on Monday.

The competition will be Neeraj's return to action after nearly nine months. He last competed at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The two-time Olympic medallist has been recovering from a back injury while training in Switzerland during the off-season.

Doha has been a successful location for the Indian athlete. He will participate in his fourth consecutive Diamond League meet there. Neeraj won the Doha Diamond League title in 2023 with a throw of 88.67m and finished second in 2024 with a throw of 88.36m. Last year, he set a national record with a throw of 90.23m at the same venue but still finished as the runner-up behind Germany's Julian Weber.

Neeraj's participation was confirmed shortly after he was provisionally named to India's 32-member athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This highlights his significance to the country's chances for medals.

The 28-year-old, however, faces tough competition in Doha. Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem was initially on the list, but he has since withdrawn. Without him, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage stands out as a top contender.

Pathirage enters the event as the current world leader after throwing an impressive 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League earlier this month. This performance moved the Sri Lankan to eighth on the all-time world list and made him the second-best Asian javelin thrower after Arshad Nadeem's Olympic record of 92.97m from the Paris 2024 Games.

The competition also includes reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago, two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, and former world champion Julius Yego from Kenya.

Other strong competitors are the USA's Pan American Games gold medallist Curtis Thompson, Czechia's Jakub Vadlejch—an Olympic and World Championships silver medallist—Ukraine's Artur Felfner, and Egypt's Ahmed Sameh Mohamed Hussein.

With many of the world’s top throwers in the mix, Doha will give an early view of Neeraj's standing in a critical year that includes the Commonwealth Games and other major events. The Doha meet is the seventh stop of the 2026 Diamond League season, which will end with the finals in Brussels on September 4 and 5.

Doha Diamond League 2026 men's javelin throw entry list:

• Neeraj Chopra (India)

• Artur Felfner (Ukraine)

• Ahmed Sameh Mohamed Hussein (Egypt)

• Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (Sri Lanka)

• Anderson Peters (Grenada)

• Curtis Thompson (USA)

• Jakub Vadlejch (Czechia)

• Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago)

• Julius Yego (Kenya)

Source: IANS

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Trivandrum, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s talented high jumper Pooja continued to stamp her authority in women’s high jump event at the Trivandrum leg of the Indian Athletics Series on Sunday.

Pooja, 19, was a comfortable winner with a height of 1.81m. She had recently set a national record of 1.93m at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships held in Hong Kong.

The senior men’s long jump however, was more exciting as David P of NCOE Bengaluru surged ahead of Shahnavaz Khan from Uttar Pradesh. David’s winning jump was 8.22m while Shahnavaz's best jump on Sunday was 8.17m.

Jithin Arjunan representing JSW was third with a distance of 8.12m.

In the women’s 400m, Rashdeep Kaur of JSW clocked 53.32 seconds to win first place in the women’s 400m race.

Results:

Men:

100m: Gitson I (Tamil Nadu) 10.51 secs, Sam Vasanth S (Tamil Nadu) 10.60 secs, Shandosh P (Tamil Nadu) 10.70 secs

400m: Manu TS (NCOE Trivandrum) 46.24 secs, Theerthesh P Shetty (Karnataka) 46.59 secs, Santhosh K (Tamil Nadu) 46.73 secs.

Long jump: David P (NCOE Bengaluru) 8.22m, Shahnavaz Khan (Uttar Pradesh) 8.17m, Jithin Arjunan (JSW) 8.12m.

High jump: Basant (NCOE Bengaluru) 2.19m, Jesse Sandesh (Karnataka) 2.13m, Aromal T (Kerala) 2.10m.

Women:

100m: Giridharani R (Tamil Nadu) 11.61 secs, Prakruthi R (Karnataka) 11.65 secs, Suba Dharsini (Tamil Nadu) 11.70 secs.

200m: Harita Bhadra (Reliance) 23.58 secs, Prakruthi Roopa (Karnataka) 23.75 secs, Subha Venkatesan (Tamil Nadu) 24.29 secs.

400m: Rashdeep Kaur (JSW) 53.32 secs, Kumar Saloni Nagar (NCOE Trivandrum) 53.64 secs, Devyaniba (Gujarat) 53.89 secs.

100m hurdles: Nandhini K (Tamil Nadu) 13.42 secs, Anjali C (JSW) 13.85 secs, Shiny Gladssia (Tamil Nadu) 14.18 secs.

Long jump: Bhavani Yadav (NCOE Bengaluru) 6.61m, Mubassina Mohammed (Anju Bobby George Academy) 6.39m, Kusuma Ravada (Anju Bobby George Academy) 6.39m.

Triple jump: Aleena T Saji (Kerala) 12.87m, Pavithra G (Railway Sports) 12.84m, Janice Tressa R (Kerala) 12.71m.

High jump: Pooja (Haryana) 1.81m, Giji George (Tamil Nadu) 1.64m, Saliha KH (Railway Sports) 1.60m.

U20 Men:

100m: Neil Samraj R (Tamil Nadu) 10.59 secs, Rudra Shinde (Maharashtra) 10.61 secs, A Abubakar (Karnataka) 10.62 secs.

400m: Ranjith Kumar S (Tamil Nadu) 47.26 secs, Abhay Kumar Dubey (Uttar Pradesh) 47.41 secs, Lodence Ramu (Telangana) 47.57 secs.

110m hurdles: Sandeep Vinod Kumar (Reliance) 13.63 secs, Fasalul Haque (Reliance) 13.76 secs, Kiran K (Kerala) 13.80 secs.

Triple jump: Daksh Bishnoi (Punjab) 15.46m, Dhanush Raj M (Kerala) 15.13m, Royshan P (Tamil Nadu) 15.12m.

Long jump: Rajeev Roy (West Bengal) 7.45m, Toshik Kature (Chhattisgarh) 7.18m, Sri Ram R (Kerala) 6.87m.

U20

Women: 100m: Nipam (Uttar Pradesh) 11.75 secs, Ananya Suresh (NCOE Trivandrum) 11.85 secs, Rujula Amol (Maharashtra) 11.86 secs.

Long jump: Komal (Haryana) 5.62m, Magheli B (JSW) 5.61m, Jasmine (Kerala) 5.47m.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has defended its much-debated qualification standards for the Commonwealth Games 2026 after filling the country's entire quota of 32 athletes for Glasgow.

When the benchmarks were first announced, they attracted criticism from several quarters for being significantly higher than existing national standards in some events. However, following the announcement of the final squad, AFI spokesperson and World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla said the results have vindicated the federation's approach.

“So you can see the whole quota and we could have even taken more people. So the quota is 32, so we also kept the qualifying standards to make sure that people qualify. So you can see that therefore our qualifying standards were not high. Our qualifying standards were right,” Sumariwalla said during a press conference announcing India’s athletics team for the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

Sumariwalla pointed to the number of athletes who eventually achieved the marks, arguing that the criticism directed at the federation earlier in the season has now been answered by performances on the field.

“I know we got criticised a lot when we set these qualifying standards. But there's a lot of science that goes into anything that we do. We don't do things just off the cuff,” he added.

The AFI official noted that several athletes not only met the standards but also came close to earning selection, further strengthening the federation's belief that the benchmarks were realistic rather than excessive.

“And we got criticised, and for a long time we got hammered in the media. But you can see that 32 people have qualified. So, there were some people very, very close to qualifying. There were at least five or six people very, very close to qualifying. So that just goes to show that our science was right,” he stated.

According to Sumariwalla, the improvement also reflects the broader development structure put in place across the country in recent years.

He credited grassroots initiatives, talent identification programs, and an expanded domestic competition calendar for helping athletes consistently raise their standards.

“India is improving over the years, over the last many years. The program that we have, the kids program that we have, the National Inter-District we have, the talent search program that we have and then what we built from that into the elite program,” he mentioned.

Sumariwalla highlighted the federation's efforts to create regular competition opportunities across regions, reducing the need for athletes to travel long distances in search of meets. He believes that frequent competition has addressed one of Indian athletics' longstanding challenges and played a major role in the recent rise in performances.

“We have 42 events. There is an event which happened yesterday. Something is happening today in Kerala. Yesterday, something happened in Trivandrum, in Ludhiana. All over the country, there are events happening. So athletes don't have to travel from one place to another. The people in the south could go to Trivandrum. The people in the north could go there. So every third or the fourth day, there is an event happening across the country.

“So this is giving them the competition. Our athletes used to lack a lot of competition, and now they have this opportunity to compete. And therefore, our standards were absolutely right and not as high as everybody thought it was and that we got brickbats for it,” he expressed.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Star Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's place in India's athletics squad for the Commonwealth Games 2026 is not yet guaranteed despite his name featuring in the provisional list announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

During a virtual media interaction following the announcement of the 32-member contingent for Glasgow, AFI spokesperson and World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla clarified that Chopra remains the only selected athlete who is yet to achieve the required qualification mark.

Responding to questions about the criteria attached to Chopra's inclusion, Sumariwalla made it clear that the Olympic champion will still need to meet the benchmark before his selection can be confirmed.

“Neeraj has to qualify. Everybody else has qualified. Those who are selected, everybody has achieved the qualifying standard. So, Neeraj will have to qualify. Selva has already qualified, but he'll have to jump very close to his qualifying if we have to consider him, because we don't know his present status as of today. And he himself has asked to come and participate, and he said that he would like to come and qualify at the interstate,” Sumariwalla told the media during a virtual press conference on Sunday.

The clarification came amid discussions about both Chopra and triple jumper Selva Prabhu, whose selections are tied to their performances in upcoming competitions.

While Chopra is expected to compete before the Commonwealth Games, the federation is still awaiting details of his return to competition following his recovery from injury.

Asked when the reigning world champion is likely to begin his season, Sumariwalla indicated that the athlete is still finalising his plans.

“He'll let us know in a couple of days, we don't know yet. He's working out his competition schedule. He's just recovered, so he's good, he's fit. He's training fit now, he has to get competition fit,” Sumariwalla said.

Although back in training, the javelin star has not yet returned to competition and is expected to use the coming weeks to regain match sharpness. Sumariwalla also offered an update on Chopra's recovery when asked about concerns surrounding his back injury, while providing encouraging news on middle-distance runner Jyoti Yaraji, who has been sidelined in recent months.

“Neeraj is now training fit, and he's getting ready to compete probably in the next 10 days or so. So let's wait and see that. Jyoti is recovering, recovering well and recovering fast. Let's see, she's also training fit, she now has to get competition fit,” he mentioned.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Sunday unveiled a 32-member athletics contingent for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with a mix of established stars and emerging performers earning places in the squad across track and field disciplines.

The final list comprises 22 male and 10 female athletes, filling India's allotted quota for the Games. Among the headline names is Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra, whose inclusion remains subject to meeting selection requirements before the competition.

The men's squad features a strong presence in the jumps and throws events, with athletes such as M Sreeshankar, Tejaswin Shankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Praveen Chithravel and Rohit Yadav making the cut. On the track, Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur and Gulveer Singh will spearhead India's sprint and distance-running challenge.

In the women's section, Parul Chaudhary headlines the endurance events, while Manpreet Kaur, Seema and Nidhi Rani will carry India's hopes in the throws. Ravina and Priyanka have been selected in the 10,000m race walk.

A separate mixed 4x400m relay pool consisting of Vishal T.K., Rajesh Ramesh, Ansa Babu, Rashdeep Kaur and Neeru Pathak has also been named.

World Athletics vice-president and former AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said the selections were made in accordance with the federation's previously announced policy, including consideration of athletes who competed overseas with prior approval.

“We have selected the team today. As you are aware that we have a quota of 32 athletes. We have selected 22 men and 10 women to fill the quota. As we have mentioned earlier, our selection has been as per the policy of AAFI. We have also in the policy mentioned that athletes who have asked for special permission, who have participated abroad, taken prior permission, their performances have been taken into consideration,” Adille Sumariwalla said while addressing the media during a virtual press conference on Sunday.

One of the key talking points from the announcement was the conditional selection of Neeraj Chopra and triple jumper Selva Prabhu. Both athletes have sought consideration based on performances scheduled before the Games, with the federation agreeing to review their results before confirming their participation.

Explaining the decision, Sumariwalla said the selection committee had taken into account requests from athletes competing outside the domestic circuit.

“There are two people who we have selected and they have requested that their performances, one in the coming interstate meet be considered. That is Selva Prabhu who is also an NCAA athlete as well as Neeraj who has requested that he would be participating in a couple of competitions before the Commonwealth Games. If he achieves his qualifying standard, he has also requested to be selected. Neeraj would participate in a couple of international meets before the Commonwealth Games,” Sumariwalla added.

The announcement marks the beginning of India's final preparations for Glasgow 2026, where the athletics team will be expected to contribute significantly to the country's overall medal tally. With a blend of proven international performers and rising talent, the federation has opted for a squad designed to maximise opportunities across a wide range of disciplines while staying within the strict athlete quota allotted for the Games.

India squad at CWG 2026:

Men:

Gurindervir Singh – 100m, Animesh Kujur – 200m, Gulveer Singh – 5000m, 10,000m, Tejas Ashok Shirse – 110m hurdles, Yashas P – 400m hurdles, Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan – 400m hurdles, Sarvesh Anil Kushare – High jump, Adarsh Ram J – High jump, Dev Meena – Pole vault, Kuldeep Kumar – Pole vault, M. Sreeshankar – Long jump, Lokesh Sathyanathan – Long jump, Praveen Chithravel – Triple jump, Selva Prabhu* – Triple jump, Samardeep Singh Gill – Shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor – Shot put, Neeraj Chopra* – Javelin throw, Rohit Yadav – Javelin throw, Yash Vir Singh – Javelin throw, Tejaswin Shankar – Decathlon, High jump

Women

Parul Chaudhary – 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, Pooja – High jump, Manpreet Kaur – Shot put, Seema – Discus throw, Nidhi Rani – Discus throw, Ravina – 10,000m race walk, Priyanka – 10,000m race walk

Mixed relay pool (4x400m mixed relay)- Vishal T.K., Rajesh Ramesh, Ansa Babu, Rashdeep Kaur, Neeru Pathak

(Neeraj Chopra and Selva Prabhu's selection is subject to their performance before the Commonwealth Games 2026)

Source: IANS

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Ludhiana, June 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian hurdler Tejas Shirse delivered a landmark performance at the Indian Athletics Series 9 on Saturday, clocking a stunning 13.27 seconds in the men's 110m hurdles to set a new national record and strengthen his case for a place in the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad.

The 24-year-old athlete eclipsed his own national record of 13.41 seconds set in 2024, producing one of the finest sprint-hurdle performances by an Indian athlete. His effort also comfortably surpassed the Athletics Federation of India's Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 13.39 seconds.

Running in the B final, Shirse exploded out of the blocks and established an early lead. Despite clipping the final hurdle, he maintained his momentum to the finish line, stopping the clock at 13.27 seconds. Krishik M finished second in 13.55 seconds but was never able to close the gap on the record-breaking hurdler.

The timing represents a significant leap from Shirse's gold medal-winning run of 13.50 seconds at last month's Federation Cup in Ranchi and places him among Asia's leading performers this season. His 13.27-second effort currently ranks sixth on the continental list for 2026.

The achievement carries additional significance for Indian athletics. If selected, Shirse could become the first Indian male hurdler to compete at the Commonwealth Games since Siddharth Thingalaya's appearance in 2014.

Elsewhere, national record holder Mohammad Afsal P endured a disappointing outing in the men's 800m, clocking 1:47.00 and falling short of the 1:45.00 qualification standard, a result that may end his hopes of making the Commonwealth Games team.

Attention later shifted to the men's javelin throw competition, where several athletes were chasing qualification marks. With World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav sidelined by an elbow injury and double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra continuing his recovery from injury, throwers including Rohit Yadav, Shivam Lohakare and Kishore Kumar Jena remained in contention for a place in the national squad.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s Olympic champion in javelin throw, Arshad Nadeem, will get a financial boost for his sports complex to produce more champions as the country's government has allocated 50 million PKR (180k US dollars), a news report said on Thursday.

Nadeem stunned the world by winning the gold medal in the Javelin event of the Paris Olympics two years ago, throwing the spear to a new Olympic record distance of 92.97 meters.

Nadeem showed pleasure at the allocation of the budget, a source told www.telecomasia.net. “Let it come to an official announcement, but I have been told about this, and this will be a great boost for the sports complex, which will be aimed at producing future champions,” Nadeem told Telecom Asia Sport.

Nadeem stressed the need for uplifting facilities. “Who can know better than me what facilities mean,” he said. “I have been witnessing how Neeraj and other athletes train and have physically seen their facilities. So, this facility will go a long way in helping us progress and produce more champions.”

The academy will be named Arshad Nadeem-Shahbaz Sharif High Performance Sports Academy and will be developed at the Pakistan Sports Complex. The estimated cost of the project is around 2.85 billion PKR, a figure Nadeem hoped would be raised in a year.

As per details, a state-of-the-art academy to train elite athletes across 10 disciplines, which includes Javelin, Squash, Swimming, Shooting, and Wrestling. The Punjab government is constructing a Rs. 53 million sports stadium in Nadeem's hometown of Mian Channu, which will also help groom Javelin players.

“We need to give international-level facilities to our athletes if we want to produce champions like India, China, Japan, and other Asian countries have done,” Nadeem was quoted as saying in the report.

After performing Hajj, Nadeem is back to training with the aim to win at the Commonwealth Games (July 23 to August 2, Glasgow) and Asian Games (September 19 – October 4). Arshad Nadeem was forced to withdraw from the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou due to a chronic right knee injury, with Chopra defending his title. Nadeem, though, will defend his title.

He won the men's javelin gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, setting a new Games record with a mammoth throw of 90.18 meters, famously securing the top spot and becoming the first South Asian to cross the 90-metre barrier.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will host the inaugural edition of the Indian Athletic Awards on June 20 in Delhi, in a landmark initiative aimed at recognising excellence in Indian athletics and celebrating the individuals who continue to drive the sport forward.

The awards have been conceptualised as a platform to honour current and former athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, sponsors, and all other stakeholders whose contributions have played a vital role in India’s growing success on the global athletics stage.

Most of India’s leading current and former athletes are expected to be part of the event, making it a significant gathering for the Indian athletics fraternity and a celebration of the sport’s rapid rise in the country. Such initiatives will play an important role in boosting the morale and confidence of Indian athletes, especially young and emerging talents, while also helping create a stronger culture of recognition and inspiration within the sport.

The ceremony will honour excellence across 10 award categories, including Lifetime Achievement Awards, Best Athlete (Male & Female), Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association, and Best State Supporting Athletics.

AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said, “Indian athletics has witnessed a lot of growth over the last few years, with our athletes delivering strong performances on the global stage. The Indian Athletic Awards are a celebration of not only medal winners, but also the coaches, officials, mentors, associations, and institutions that work tirelessly behind the scenes to strengthen the sport in the country. We look forward to honouring individuals who continue to inspire the next generation of athletes.”

AFI Senior Vice President Anju Bobby George said: “This awards ceremony serves to honour the commitment and resilience demonstrated at all levels of Indian athletics. From promising newcomers to established champions and their vital support networks, every effort plays a crucial role in fostering a robust sporting culture. Indian athletics is poised for an exhilarating chapter, and these awards will pay tribute to the individuals who are instrumental in shaping this journey.”

Olympic and World Championships medallist Neeraj Chopra said: “To boost the morale and confidence of young Indian athletes, initiatives like the Indian Athletic Awards are extremely important. Recognising and celebrating the hard work of athletes, coaches, and support staff motivates the entire sporting ecosystem and inspires the next generation to dream bigger and perform better for the country.”

The awards to be presented during the evening include:

Best Male Athlete of the Year: 2025

Best Female Athlete of the Year: 2025

Best Coach of the Year: 2025

Life-time Achievement Athletics Award (3 Awards)

Best State Association of the Year: 2025

Best Technical Official of the Year: 2025

Best State Supporting Athletics

Organisation supporting Athletics

Partner supporting Athletics

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's javelin campaign for the Commonwealth Games 2026 has suffered a significant setback, with World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav confirming that he has withdrawn from the multi-sport event due to an elbow injury that is expected to require surgery.

The development comes after months of discomfort for the 23-year-old, who has struggled to replicate the form that established him as one of India's leading athletics stars last year. The injury, which has troubled him since the Indian Athletics Series-3 in New Delhi, worsened following his appearance at the Rome Diamond League and has now forced him to step away from competition.

“I’m still injured, so I have withdrawn. I don't know how long the rehabilitation process will take, as I need to undergo surgery. The exact date of the surgery has not been decided yet, and the discussion is still on. The Athletics Federation of India (AF) will discuss and recommend, and the surgery will happen whenever they give the go-ahead,” Sachin told IANS.

The uncertainty surrounding the surgery and recovery timeline also casts doubt on his participation in the upcoming Inter-State Athletics Championships. Scheduled later this month in Bhubaneswar, the meet carries added significance as it serves as a key qualification event for the 2026 Asian Games.

Should Sachin miss the competition, his hopes of securing a place in India's Asian Games squad could face a major obstacle.

The injury has coincided with a challenging start to the season for the Indian thrower. After consistently competing among the world's elite in 2025, Sachin has crossed the 80-metre mark only once in three competitions this year. His most recent outing came at the Rome Diamond League, where he was unable to breach the 80m barrier. After opening with a foul, he recorded throws of 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m, and 75.54m, with 79.18m his best effort of the evening.

The performance mirrored his result at the Federation Cup 2026, where he managed 79.07m, marking consecutive competitions below the 80m mark.

The dip in form stands in sharp contrast to a breakthrough 2025 campaign that transformed Sachin into one of the brightest prospects in the world javelin. He produced a personal best throw of 86.27m during the season and finished fourth at the World Athletics Championships, narrowly missing a podium finish as he announced himself on the global stage.

His withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games removes one of India's strongest medal contenders from the athletics programme and leaves the focus firmly on his recovery, as he aims to return to full fitness ahead of future international assignments.

Source: IANS

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