Ankita shattered a decade-old meet record in the women's 3000m steeplechase, securing gold at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships. Jishnu Prasad also set a new meet record in the men's 200m, highlighting a day of impressive athletic achievements.
Nirbhay Choudhary and Haqikat Grewal set new meet records in hammer throw at the Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition in Jaipur. Other records were also broken in men's 400m hurdles and 10,000m track race on the concluding day of the three-day event.
The National Junior (U20) Athletics Federation competition is set to begin in Tumkur, Karnataka, with young athletes vying for a spot in the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong.
On the opening day of the 65th National Open Athletics Championships in New Delhi, Kuldeep Kumar set a new pole vault meet record of 5.30m, and Asha Ilango broke a decade-old triple jump record with 13.89m. Other notable performances included Nirbhay Choudhary's hammer throw gold, Seema's discus gold, and impressive sprints from Giridharani Ravikumar and Manikanta Hoblidhar.
The National Senior Athletics Federation Competition witnessed a national record being broken twice in the men's 100m race, along with other impressive performances in long jump and 10,000m races.
The National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships concluded with star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and javelin thrower Rohit Yadav delivering top-class performances.
The 65th National Open Athletics Championships begins on Thursday in New Delhi, featuring hammer thrower Nirbhay Choudhary aiming to improve his national record and sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar making a comeback from injury. Other prominent athletes like race walker Servin Sebastian, Olympians Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar, and long-distance runner Abhishek Pal are also set to compete, alongside several Asian Games medallists.
Maharashtra's Rushiprasad Desai set a new men's 100m meet record, while Priya from Haryana broke the women's discus throw record at the Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition 2026 in Jaipur. Dev Kumar Meena also bettered his own pole vault record, and Unnathi Bollanda equalled the women's 100m meet record on the opening day.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will host the UBS Athletics Kids Cup in Sonipat, Haryana, bringing the grassroots event to his home state. As a co-owner of SD Sports India, he aims to inspire young athletes and build a stronger sporting culture, with over 350 children participating in the City Final.
Discus thrower Bharatpreet Singh and pole vaulter Nitika Anup established new meet records at the 6th Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition in Jaipur. Bharatpreet won gold with a throw of 54.70m, while Nitika secured gold by clearing 4.15m. The event also saw other athletes achieve notable results across various disciplines.
Promising sprinters Abinaya Rajarajan and Neil Samraj set new national records in the Under-20 women's 100m and Under-18 men's 100m respectively at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai. Punjab's Amanat Kamboj also secured a gold in the U20 discus throw with a meet record.
Sahil of Rajasthan broke the boys' 1,000m meet record at the 21st National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana, clocking 2:25.25. Haryana's Dev also surpassed the previous record, securing silver. The event also saw other notable performances across various categories for both boys and girls under 18.
Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
India's Asian Games athletics team has been trimmed to 74 members, with prominent athletes like javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance or medical reasons. The decision followed a confirmatory event, while some injured national record holders were cleared to participate.
Kerala Police officer Bobby Sabu has broken a 39-year-old triple jump record at the 47th Kerala Police State Athletics Meet with a 15.93-metre effort. This achievement follows his recent gold medal win at the All India Police Duty Meet, marking a significant milestone in his athletic career.
The third edition of the Kashmir Marathon in Srinagar saw hundreds of participants, including inspiring figures like a double amputee and a 10-year-old.
Indian track and field athletes at the Asian Games are facing a growing injury crisis, with Yashas Palaksha, Jyothi Yarraji, and Praveen Chithravel all pulling out or struggling due to fitness issues.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced that the SRY gene test will be mandatory for all athletes participating in its approved competitions across all age categories, effective from 2027. This decision, subject to legal formalities, aligns with new World Athletics regulations for female category eligibility.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani are scheduled to visit the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games athletes' village on September 20. This visit follows the opening ceremony and will include a tour of the Garden Pier section and interaction with athletes. The Games feature a unique accommodation setup, utilising a cruise liner, temporary villas, and hotels instead of a traditional village. Various logistical and ceremonial details, including team welcome ceremonies and other official meetings, were also discussed.
Nairobi, Kenya, has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time an African city will stage the prestigious event. World Athletics also announced Munich as the host for the 2031 championships. This decision follows Nairobi's previous unsuccessful bid for 2025 and highlights Kenya's strong connection to athletics.
The 21st National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana concluded with several new meet and national records being set. Himanshu Kumar and Krishan Chandra broke records in high jump and javelin throw, respectively, while Haryana led the medal tally.
Teenage hammer thrower Anushka Yadav broke the meet record at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships in New Delhi on Saturday with a throw of 66.53m, surpassing the previous record held by Manju Bala. She dominated the event, with her closest competitor significantly behind.
Para-shooters protesting alleged corruption in the selection process for the Aichi-Nagoya Para Asian Games met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. They accused the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) of relaxing norms to include unqualified shooters and sought an inquiry into financial irregularities. The Minister is deliberating a resolution.
Sixteen-year-old para cyclist Lisha Das from Assam has made history by becoming the youngest athlete selected to represent India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she will compete in the Para Track Cycling event.
Almost all of India's Asian Games-bound track and field athletes, including star steeplechaser Avinash Sable and javelin thrower Yashvir Singh, will participate in the Indian Athletics Series Final. This invitational event, featuring a total prize fund of Rs 65 lakh, serves as a crucial tune-up for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with most of the 77-member squad competing.
Tanya Chaudhary broke the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Avinash Sable also made a strong return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. The event served as a crucial tune-up for Indian athletes heading to the Asian Games, with several other notable performances including wins by Harita Bhadra, Animesh Kujur, Rohit Yadav, and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
Tamil Nadu sprinters Neil Samraj R and T Mrithika secured gold medals in the men's and women's 100m events, respectively, at the National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana. Both athletes set new records, with Samraj breaking the youth national record and Mrithika surpassing a meet record previously held by Dutee Chand.
The Delhi High Court has urged the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to establish clear guidelines and timelines for female athletes returning to competitive sports after maternity leave. The court's observations came during a hearing for grappler Vinesh Phogat, who is seeking permission to participate in selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships after her maternity break. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma highlighted the unfairness faced by women athletes post-childbirth and criticised the WFI's current policies, hinting at the need for a balanced framework.
Japan's Masatora Kawano and Australia's Rebecca Henderson have established new world records in the men's and women's marathon race walks, respectively, at the All Japan Race Walking meet in Takahata.
The 21st Delhi Half Marathon on October 18 will feature top international athletes, including Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese and Kenya's Irine Cheptai. The World Athletics Gold Label road race offers a substantial prize purse and promises a highly competitive field.
The Kerala child rights panel has directed the state government to include rugby in the upcoming annual state school sports meet, following a High Court directive. The panel also ordered the General Education Department to make arrangements for competitions and ensure children can participate in national events, and to amend the state school sports meet manual to include rugby in the 2026-27 National School Games.
The Sports Ministry has rescheduled its review meeting with National Sports Federations to October 15 to discuss India's performance at the recently concluded Asian Games. The focus will be on the underwhelming show of experienced athletes in sports like badminton, shooting, and athletics, following a lower medal count compared to the previous edition.
Animesh Kujur of Odisha emerged as the star of the Indian Athletics Series, winning both the 100m and 200m races. Hima Das also made her return to the track after a two-year absence.
Indian para-athlete Suvarna Raj won the gold medal in the women's F54 discus throw at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, achieving a best effort of 15.66m.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen made a stunning comeback from Achilles surgery to win the men's 5,000 metres at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, securing a $150,000 prize. Fellow star Mondo Duplantis also claimed a pole vault title, narrowly missing a world record. The new championship format aims to attract new fans with its high-stakes fields and glitzy production.
Indian Asian Games medallists expressed boosted confidence after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who encouraged them to aim for bigger goals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Athletes like Lovlina Borgohain, Nethra Kumanan, and Vithya Ramraj highlighted Modi's vision for Indian sports, including hosting major events, and the positive impact of improved facilities and support.
The Sports Ministry conducted a review of India's Asian Games performance, scrutinising the lower-than-expected medal haul in athletics and badminton. Chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting addressed issues like injured athletes and future planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with a strong emphasis on federations delivering results and nurturing young talent.
Russian Athletics has filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging sanctions imposed by World Athletics that prevent Russian athletes from participating in international competitions.
Former India cricket captain Virat Kohli met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London to discuss enhancing sports infrastructure, athlete development, and the state's progress. The dialogue focused on policy improvements, upcoming sports facilities like a Sports City near Navi Mumbai, and empowering youth through sports initiatives. Kohli also shared his passion for cricket and commitment to guiding young athletes.
An art display at the Asian Games Main Media Centre in Nagoya features drawings by artists from across the subcontinent, offering a unique perspective on the Games. The collection includes tributes to athletes like Neeraj Chopra and calls for cricket's global expansion, all while incorporating the mascot Honohon. It highlights the emotion and colour of sport beyond competition.
