Top athletes gear up for Inter-State C’ships with eyes on Asian Games
Bhubaneswar: After Indian athletes put up a stupendous show at Federation Cup in Ranchi last month, it is now time to do it all over again at National Inter-State Athletics Championships, to be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from June 23 to 28. The meet will serve as the qualification event
By Arnab Lall Seal
Bhubaneswar: After Indian athletes put up a stupendous show at Federation Cup in Ranchi last month, it is now time to do it all over again at National Inter-State Athletics Championships, to be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from June 23 to 28.
The meet will serve as the qualification event for Asian Games.A total of 637 athletes from 26 states will compete in the hope of making it to the Indian squad, which will be announced on the final day of the competition.
Barring a few big names like Neeraj Chopra, Tejaswin Shankar in the decathlon and 100m national record holder Gurindervir Singh, most of the country’s top athletes will be in action at the six-day event.While all athletes hoping to make the Asian Games squad were required to participate here, it is understood that these athletes will remain eligible for selection despite missing the meet, subject to the selectors' discretion.The major focus on the opening day will be on Gulveer Singh in men’s 5000m.
He returned to the country from the US only last week and has been in Bhubaneswar since Sunday.
Besides the 5000m, he will also compete in the 1500m.Also, in action on the opening day will be Jyothi Yarraji.
She is making her comeback after a seven-month layoff following ACL surgery on her right knee, an injury that ruled her out of the 2025 World Championships.
She last competed at the Taiwan Open in June 2025, where she had won gold in the women’s 100m hurdles.Speaking about her return, her coach at Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre, Owen Martins, said: “She’s in good shape and healthy.
To be honest, the immediate goal is just to qualify.
Once that’s achieved, we’ll have enough time to prepare properly for the Asian Games.”Another athlete who will be in focus during the event is high jumper Sarvesh Kushare.
He has already qualified for the Commonwealth Games with a leap of 2. 28m at the Federation Cup and will now have his sights set on securing qualification for Asian Games.Speaking about his preparations ahead of the tournament, Kushare, who trains at Anju Bobby George Academy, said during the pre-event press conference: “I did well at the Ranchi meet and the Federation Cup, and also competed in Odisha before taking part in Inter-State Championships.
These competitions have helped me build confidence and prepare for the upcoming challenges.”Animesh Kujur is also confident of a strong showing and said he would be targeting the national record in men’s 100m once again after losing it to Gurindervir Singh at the Federation Cup.
He is coming into the competition after representing India at Asian Relay Championships in China, where he was part of the mixed 4x100m relay team that won a bronze.It remains to be seen, however, whether he will be able to generate the same pace on a track that was laid only recently, with the relaying process completed in just 30 days.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
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