Tejas Shirse, Shaili Singh Headline India’s Challenge at New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026
India will field a strong contingent at the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level competition scheduled to be held on June 6 and 7 in Chinese Taipei.
With crucial world ranking points and valuable international exposure on offer, the meet presents an important opportunity for several Indian athletes as they continue preparations for a packed international season.
The Day 1 start lists released ahead of the competition feature some of India's leading track and field athletes, including national record holder Tejas Shirse, long jump star Shaili Singh, and the Indian women's 4x100m relay team.
Interestingly, while the Indian men's 4x100m relay team was included in the original entry list, the quartet does not feature in the Day 1 start lists, raising questions about their participation in the competition.
One of the biggest Indian names competing in New Taipei will be Tejas Shirse, who continues his impressive rise in the men's 110m hurdles.
The national record holder has enjoyed a breakthrough season and will be looking to test himself against a quality international field. Continental Tour Silver competitions provide athletes with valuable ranking points and competitive opportunities against strong opposition, making the event a crucial stop in Shirse's 2026 campaign.
Strong performances in meets of this level can significantly boost qualification prospects for major championships and improve world rankings.
India's challenge in the field events will be led by long jumper Shaili Singh. The former World U20 Championships silver medallist remains one of India's most promising young athletes and will be eager to build momentum during the outdoor season. Shaili has already established herself among the country's top jumpers and continues to gain valuable experience competing at international competitions.
A strong performance in Chinese Taipei would provide a timely confidence boost as she targets qualification standards and improved rankings ahead of upcoming continental competitions.
Women's Relay Team in Action
The Indian women's 4x100m relay team will also be among the athletes in action. The squad includes Nithya Gandhe, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar and Tamanna, who have been part of India's sprint relay programme over recent seasons.
Relay competitions have gained increasing importance for India, particularly with the Asian Games approaching later this year. The New Taipei City Athletics Open offers the team an opportunity to gain race practice and improve coordination against international opposition.
Individual sprint events will also see Indian representation. Tamanna will compete in the women's 100m while Srabani Nanda is entered in the women's 200m.
On the men's side, national record holder Gurindervir Singh, Ragul Kumar, Pranav Pramod and Harsh Santosh Raut were originally listed for relay duties, while Animesh Kujur is entered in the men's 200m and Senthil Kumar Tamilarasu is set to compete in the men's 100m.
This year's competition carries greater significance after being upgraded to a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet. Previously known as the Taiwan Athletics Open, the competition has been rebranded as the New Taipei City Athletics Open to align with World Athletics naming conventions, which increasingly associate Continental Tour events with host cities.
The upgrade places the meet among the most prestigious athletics competitions in Asia outside the Diamond League circuit. Only a handful of Asian nations currently host Continental Tour Silver events, including China, India, Israel and Chinese Taipei.
The higher classification means athletes can earn more ranking points while competing against stronger international fields.
The New Taipei City Athletics Open has attracted an impressive international lineup. Among the biggest names expected to compete are Nigerian sprint hurdles star Tobi Amusan, Singapore's sprint sensation Veronica Shanti Pereira and Polish hammer throw legend Anita Wlodarczyk, a three-time Olympic champion.
The competition will also feature a large Australian contingent, with 27 athletes travelling as part of the Australian Athletics Under-23 Tour.
Several highly ranked international athletes across sprinting, hurdles, middle-distance events, jumps and throws are expected to compete, ensuring strong competition throughout the two-day meet.
For Indian athletes, the timing of the competition is particularly important. The World Athletics ranking window for major championships and qualification events remains active, making every ranking point valuable. The meet also serves as an ideal opportunity to assess form ahead of the Asian Games later this year.
Chinese Taipei athletes are using the competition as a major qualification event for the Asian Games, and many international competitors view it as a key development opportunity during the outdoor season.
For India, the focus will be on gaining competitive experience, improving rankings and building momentum for bigger challenges later in the year.
With Tejas Shirse, Shaili Singh and several relay specialists set to take centre stage, Indian athletics fans will be hoping for strong performances when the action begins at Banqiao Stadium on Friday. The competition promises to provide a valuable test against high-quality international opposition and another important step in India's preparations for the busy months ahead.
Inputs from Rahul Bhutani on X
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