THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 24, 2026
The 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship
2026 got underway on Tuesday at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, bringing
together some of the finest athletes from across the country. The prestigious
event is being jointly organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and
the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha.
Odisha’s Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Suryabanshi
Suraj, inaugurated the five-day championship as the chief guest. Addressing the
gathering, he encouraged the participating athletes and lauded Odisha’s
world-class sporting infrastructure. Welcoming the nation’s top competitors,
the Minister wished them success and expressed confidence that the championship
would add yet another golden chapter to Odisha’s growing sporting legacy.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by several distinguished
dignitaries, including Dr. Lalit Kumar Bhanot, President of the South Asian
Athletics Federation; Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary,
Department of Sports and Youth Services; Dr. Yeddula Vijay, Director of Sports;
and Abhijit Paul, President of the Odisha Olympic Association.
The championship assumes added significance as it serves as a
key qualification event for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, scheduled to be held
in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Around 630 elite athletes — comprising
342 men and 288 women — from 27 States and Union Territories are competing in
the tournament.
A total of 45 medal events will be contested across a wide
range of track and field disciplines, including sprinting, distance running,
hurdles, high jump, long jump, and javelin throw. Haryana has fielded the
largest contingent with 70 athletes, while host Odisha is represented by 28
athletes, including 12 women competitors.
The championship also features several of Odisha’s leading stars, including javelin thrower Kishore Jena and sprinters Sravani Nanda, Animesh Kujur, Lalu Prasad Bhoi, Pragyan Prasanti Sahu, and Sabita Toppo, who are vying for top honours in front of the home crowd.
Jointly hosted by the Athletics Federation of India and the Odisha Government’s Department of Sports and Youth Services, the championship will continue until June 28, promising thrilling competition and a showcase of the nation’s emerging and established athletics talent.
