Top Indian Athletics Stars Compete for Olympic Spots at National Inter-State Championships

Panchkula (Haryana), Jun 26 : Despite the absence of Olympic javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra, India’s top track and field athletes are set to compete for Paris Olympics berths at the National Inter-State Championships starting here on Thursday.
The championships mark the final qualifying opportunity for the upcoming Paris Games, with athletics events scheduled to begin on August 1. Coincidentally, the championships conclude on June 30, which aligns with the Olympics qualifying window deadline.
Chopra opted to skip the championships due to his participation in the Paris Diamond League on July 7, following his recent gold-winning performance at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar.
Last month, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla emphasized that except for Chopra, all other athletes must participate in the National Inter-State Championships to be eligible for selection to major multi-sport events like the Olympics, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, unless specific exemptions are granted by the federation upon request from athletes or coaches.
Despite Chopra’s absence, athletes like Avinash Sable (men’s 3000m steeplechase), Kishore Jena (men’s javelin throw), Ram Baboo (men’s 20km race walk), and Parul Chaudhary (women’s 3000m steeplechase) — who have already secured Paris Games berths by meeting qualifying standards — will headline the championships.
Other contenders aiming to secure Paris tickets through world ranking quotas include Jyothi Yarraji (women’s 100m hurdles), Annu Rani (women’s javelin throw), DP Manu (men’s javelin throw), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (men’s shot put), Jeswin Aldrin (men’s long jump), Praveen Chitravel, and Abdulla Aboobacker (both men’s triple jump).
Despite dealing with a minor ankle issue, Asian record holder Toor confirmed his participation, underscoring the competitive field expected at the event.
Emerging stars like sprinter Animesh Kujur, national record holder in 110m hurdles Tejas Shirse, and long jumper Shaili Singh are also set to showcase their talent.
The championships will feature several exciting matchups, including the battle for the country’s fastest man between Kujur, Amlan Borgohain, Gurindervir Singh, and Manikanta Hoblidhar, who returns to action after missing the Federation Cup.
Notably, the Indian men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams, who have already secured Paris berths, will compete in the individual quarter-mile events.
While some prominent names like 20km race walker Akshdeep Singh and women’s 20km race walk national record holder Priyanka Goswami are absent from the entry list, the championships will witness participation from athletes from Sri Lanka and Maldives as well.
The opening day of the championships will feature three finals: women’s hammer throw, and men’s and women’s 500m races, setting the stage for an intense competition to secure coveted spots for the Paris Olympics.