Bhubaneswar: Following a remarkable performance by Indian athletes at the Federation Cup in Ranchi last month, attention now turns to the National Inter-State Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from June 23 to 28. This championship will serve as a qualification event for the Asian Games.
A total of 637 athletes from 26 states will compete, all vying for a place on the Indian team, which will be announced on the final day of the competition. While a few prominent athletes such as Neeraj Chopra, Tejaswin Shankar in the decathlon, and 100m national record holder Gurindervir Singh will not participate, most of the country’s top talents will be in action during the six-day event.
Although all athletes aiming for the Asian Games team are expected to compete, it is understood that those who miss the meet may still be eligible for selection at the discretion of the selectors.
The opening day will spotlight Gulveer Singh in the men’s 5000m. He recently returned from the US and has been in Bhubaneswar since Sunday. In addition to the 5000m, he will also participate in the 1500m.
Another athlete making headlines on the first day is Jyothi Yarraji, who is returning after a seven-month hiatus due to ACL surgery on her right knee, which had sidelined her from the 2025 World Championships. Her last competition was at the Taiwan Open in June 2025, where she secured gold in the women’s 100m hurdles. Her coach at Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre, Owen Martins, commented on her return: “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.”
High jumper Sarvesh Kushare will also draw attention during the event. He has already qualified for the Commonwealth Games with a leap of 2.28m at the Federation Cup and is now aiming for Asian Games qualification. Discussing his preparations, Kushare, who trains at the Anju Bobby George Academy, stated at a 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 optimistic about his performance and aims to reclaim the national record in men’s 100m after losing it to Gurindervir Singh at the Federation Cup. He comes into this competition after representing India at the Asian Relay Championships in China, where he was part of the mixed 4x100m relay team that won a bronze medal. However, it remains to be seen if he can maintain his pace on a newly laid track, which was completed in just 30 days.
Source: Times of India
