THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 20, 2026
Kalinga Stadium is ready to become the centre of the
athletics world once again as the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet
arrives in Bhubaneswar on August 22, bringing together 187 elite athletes from
27 countries in what promises to be a high-quality international sporting
spectacle.
The upgrade from last year's Bronze-level competition to
Silver status marks another significant milestone for Odisha, underlining the
State's growing stature as a global sporting destination. The one-day meet is
being jointly organised by the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government
of Odisha, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and World Athletics.
With Kalinga Stadium scheduled to host the World Athletics
Indoor Championships and the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028,
Saturday's competition will also serve as an important preparatory exercise for
Odisha ahead of two major international championships.
The meet will feature 88 Indian athletes and 99 international
competitors, with 143 participants representing 12 Asian countries. Major
overseas contingents include 24 athletes from Sri Lanka, 17 from South Africa
and 11 from Brazil.
The competition will comprise 18 events — nine each for men
and women. The men's programme includes the 100m, 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles,
high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin throw, while the women's events
comprise the 100m, 400m, 1500m, 100m hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin
throw and discus throw.
The meet carries valuable World Athletics ranking points,
with the top three finishers in each event set to receive $1,600, $1,200 and
$900 respectively.
Odisha will have several athletes to cheer for, with Animesh
Kujur (100m), Swadhin Kumar Majhi (high jump), Kishore Jena (javelin), Bapi
Hansda (400m), Srabani Nanda (100m) and Pragyan Prasanti Sahoo (100m) among
those representing the host State.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the
elevation to Silver status reflected the growing stature of the competition and
would provide Indian athletes with greater opportunities to improve their
international rankings.
AFI chairman Dr. Lalit Kumar Bhanot highlighted the quality
of the field and the opportunities available to Indian athletes, noting that
the meet would feature two finals and meet the required international
participation criteria. He also pointed to Kalinga Stadium's distinction of
housing India's only indoor track.
Among the leading names in action will be Indian long jumper
M. Sreeshankar, ranked 15th in the world, who regards Kalinga Stadium as a
favourite venue after producing personal-best performances here. Fellow long jumper
Ancy Sojan Edappilly, ranked 41st, sees the meet as an important step in her
preparations for the Asian Games.
Brazilian 100m hurdler Vitoria Alves, ranked 22nd in the world, has praised the track conditions as ideal preparation for the South American Games, while Nigerian shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, ranked ninth globally, has expressed confidence after training at the facilities and is eager to make a strong impression on his first visit to India.
The event is also expected to provide a glimpse of Odisha's preparations for its larger international athletics commitments. A welcome banquet for participating athletes has been arranged by the Governor, while Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to attend the competition.
