Interstate Athletics Championships 2026: Vithya Ramraj, Tejas Shirse Lead Wave of Asian Games Qualifiers in Bhubaneswar
The 65th National Inter-State Athletics Championships 2026 in Bhubaneswar continued to produce outstanding performances as several of India's leading athletes achieved the qualification standards for the 2026 Asian Games.
From track to field events, the championships witnessed a series of impressive displays, highlighting the growing depth in Indian athletics ahead of the continental showpiece.
Leading the day's performances were Vithya Ramraj, who topped the women's 400m hurdles heats, and national record holder Tejas Shirse, who claimed the men's 110m hurdles title while confirming his place for the Asian Games. There were also qualification marks in the triple jump and hammer throw, while Seema continued her dominance in the women's discus throw.
India's most consistent women's 400m hurdler, Vithya Ramraj, once again demonstrated her class by registering the fastest qualifying time in the event.
The joint national record holder, who shares the Indian record with legendary sprinter P.T. Usha, clocked 56.61 seconds to comfortably breach the Asian Games qualification standard.
Her performance not only secured qualification for the continental event but also established her as the fastest qualifier heading into the final.
Vithya has been India's leading quarter-miler over hurdles in recent seasons, and her consistency continues to make her one of the country's strongest medal prospects at the Asian level. Having achieved the qualification mark in the heats, she will now look to add the national title when she returns for the final.
Fresh from rewriting the national record earlier this season, Tejas Shirse continued his remarkable run by winning the men's 110m hurdles title. The Maharashtra hurdler crossed the finish line in 13.61 seconds, comfortably inside the Asian Games qualification standard of 13.63 seconds to secure his berth for the Games.
Earlier this season, Shirse had already established himself as India's fastest-ever hurdler after breaking the national record with a stunning 13.27 seconds, a performance that elevated expectations surrounding the talented athlete. Winning the Interstate Championships title further confirms his excellent form as he prepares for the remainder of the international season.
Indian triple jumping enjoyed one of its strongest days in recent years, with three athletes crossing the Asian Games qualification mark of 16.28 metres. Leading the field was National Record holder Praveen Chithravel, who wasted no time in confirming his qualification. Chithravel produced a massive 16.92m effort on his very first attempt, comfortably surpassing the required mark and underlining why he remains India's premier triple jumper.
Joining him was Selva Prabhu, who continued the impressive form that recently saw him crowned NCAA Champion. Selva cleared 16.57m on his second attempt to seal qualification and further strengthen India's depth in the event.
The experienced Abdulla Aboobacker, a Commonwealth Games medallist, also booked his Asian Games place with a leap of 16.54m on his third attempt. Having three Indian athletes exceed the qualification standard in the same competition is an encouraging sign for the country's prospects in the event at the continental level.
The men's hammer throw also delivered excellent news for Indian athletics. Damneet Singh claimed victory with a throw of 69.72 metres, comfortably exceeding the Asian Games qualification mark. Close behind him was Praveen Kumar, who recorded a personal best of 69.58 metres, also surpassing the qualification standard.
The performances highlight the steady improvement in Indian hammer throwing, with both athletes now earning the opportunity to compete at one of Asia's biggest sporting events.
In the women's discus throw, Haryana's Seema further strengthened her position as India's leading domestic thrower. She secured the gold medal with a personal best throw of 59.73 metres, continuing an extraordinary run that has seen her win virtually every domestic competition over the past year and a half.
The performance also confirms her place among India's top field-event athletes heading into the international season. Having already established herself on the national circuit, the upcoming Asian Games will represent the second major international championship of her career.
Her consistent improvement and ability to produce personal bests in championship competitions suggest that she will be an athlete to watch in the coming years.
The performances in Bhubaneswar underline the healthy state of Indian athletics across multiple disciplines. Sprint hurdles, middle-distance hurdles, throws and jumps all produced athletes capable of surpassing international qualification standards. The diversity of the achievements is particularly encouraging, demonstrating that India's strength is no longer confined to a handful of events.
For the Athletics Federation of India, the growing number of athletes meeting qualification marks well ahead of the Asian Games provides healthy competition for national selection while also raising expectations for strong performances on the continental stage.
As the Interstate Athletics Championships approach their conclusion, the championships continue to serve as the country's most important platform for identifying medal contenders. With Vithya Ramraj, Tejas Shirse, Praveen Chithravel, Selva Prabhu, Abdulla Aboobacker, Damneet Singh, Praveen Kumar and Seema all producing standout performances, Indian athletics has taken another significant step towards assembling a formidable squad for the 2026 Asian Games.
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