Shaili Singh Claims Long Jump Gold While Seema and Nidhi Shine in Discus at Indian Athletics Series-9

The Indian Athletics Series-9 in Ludhiana produced contrasting yet equally significant stories in the women’s field events as Shaili Singh comfortably won the long jump competition, while Seema and Nidhi achieved the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard in the women’s discus throw.

Shaili reaffirmed her status as India’s leading long jumper by securing the title with a best effort of 6.42 metres, but narrowly missed the qualification mark required for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In contrast, the discus competition witnessed two standout performances, with Seema throwing 58.16m and Nidhi recording 57.08m, both comfortably beyond the Athletics Federation of India’s qualifying standard of 56.85m.

The performances added another exciting chapter to a domestic meet that has seen several Indian athletes produce personal bests and qualification-worthy marks across disciplines.

Despite falling short of the Commonwealth Games qualification standard, Shaili Singh once again demonstrated why she remains the country’s premier women’s long jumper.

The 21-year-old produced a best leap of 6.42 metres to comfortably secure the gold medal and finish well ahead of the rest of the field. In fact, she was the only athlete to cross the six-metre mark, underlining the gulf in quality between herself and her competitors on the day. Although the distance was enough to claim top honours, it was not sufficient to achieve the Commonwealth Games qualification standard, leaving Shaili with more work to do before final selections are confirmed.

Shaili’s victory reinforces her consistency at the domestic level. Ever since emerging as one of India’s brightest athletics prospects, she has regularly dominated national competitions and represented the country at major international events. Known for her explosive speed on the runway and impressive take-off technique, Shaili has been one of India’s biggest hopes in the horizontal jumps. While 6.42m may not represent her career best, it still reflects her ability to perform under pressure and maintain her position at the top of the national rankings.

The result also provides valuable competition exposure as she continues preparations for future international assignments.

Seema Delivers Another Commonwealth Games Standard

While Shaili celebrated gold in the long jump, the women’s discus throw witnessed an equally impressive display from Seema, who launched the implement 58.16 metres to secure first place. The throw comfortably surpassed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 56.85m, adding to her growing list of achievements this season.

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Importantly, Seema had already achieved the qualification standard earlier at the Federation Cup, making this latest performance further confirmation of her consistency and readiness for elite international competition. Producing another throw above the benchmark demonstrates that her earlier success was no one-off performance but rather part of sustained high-level form.

Joining Seema in crossing the qualification mark was Nidhi, who produced a lifetime-defining throw of 57.08 metres to finish second. Unlike Seema, for whom qualification had already been secured, Nidhi’s performance proved decisive in booking her place among the athletes who have achieved the required standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. By exceeding the qualifying mark by more than 20 centimetres, she underlined her growing credentials and emerged as another promising name in India’s women’s throwing programme.

Her breakthrough performance also reflects the increasing depth in Indian discus, where multiple athletes are now capable of producing internationally competitive distances.

The results from Ludhiana highlight encouraging trends across Indian athletics. In the long jump, Shaili Singh continues to maintain a commanding lead over the domestic field, even as she pursues bigger international targets. Meanwhile, in the discus throw, the emergence of multiple athletes clearing major qualification standards points to healthy competition and rising standards.

Such internal competition is crucial for sustained international success, pushing athletes to continually improve and reducing dependence on a single medal prospect.

The Athletics Federation of India has established demanding qualification standards for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, ensuring that only athletes capable of competing at a high international level make the final contingent. For Seema and Nidhi, clearing the benchmark is a significant step towards selection, though final team composition will also depend on federation policies and athlete quotas.

Shaili Singh, despite winning gold in convincing fashion, will likely focus on upcoming competitions to improve her mark and secure qualification through performance.

The Indian Athletics Series-9 has already witnessed multiple national records, personal bests and Commonwealth Games qualification marks across disciplines. The latest performances by Shaili, Seema and Nidhi further reinforce the strength of the domestic circuit as a platform for elite performances. While Shaili’s 6.42m was enough to dominate the long jump competition, the day belonged equally to Seema and Nidhi, whose discus throws ensured India added two more athletes to its growing list of Commonwealth Games qualifiers.

As the countdown to Glasgow continues, the trio will carry valuable confidence from Ludhiana and aim to build on these performances on the international stage, with the ultimate goal of delivering medals for India.