Bhubaneswar: The historic “1st Indian Open” World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet is underway today at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, offering a crucial opportunity for athletes to earn ranking points and qualify for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
This marks the first time India has ever hosted a Bronze-level Continental Tour event, which is the second-tier of global track and field meets after the elite Diamond League.
The one-day competition features over 160 athletes from 17 countries, including a large Indian contingent of over 90 athletes. They will be competing across 19 events, including sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, jumps, and throws. A prize purse of $25,000 is on the line.
Secretary Sports and Youth Services, Sachin R Jadhav said all necessary arrangements for the mega event has been done. “The Government of Odisha is excited to host the inaugural edition of World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze in Bhubaneswar,” Shri Jadhav adds. “We will continue to organise global competition in future.”
The AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said that the Continental Tour is a good platform for athletes to showcase their performance and earn qualification marks for the Worlds in Japan. “More than 10 athletes have already qualified for the Worlds in Japan. We expected more athletes to make the cut for global competition scheduled to be held in September,” says the AFI President.
Athletes to Watch
Several top Indian athletes are in the spotlight, aiming for strong performances to secure their spots at the World Championships.
- Animesh Kujur: The national record holder in both the men’s 100m and 200m sprints will be a major draw. He is currently ranked 41st in the world for the 200m and is looking to improve his position to qualify for Tokyo. He will face stiff competition from Malaysian national record holder Muhammad Azeem Fahmi.
- Murali Sreeshankar: The long jumper, who is on a three-event winning streak since returning from injury, is aiming to build momentum towards the World Championships.
- Sachin Yadav and Annu Rani: In javelin throw, Sachin Yadav will lead the Indian challenge in the men’s event, while Annu Rani will compete in the women’s javelin throw.
- Shaili Singh: A rising star in women’s long jump, she will be looking for a standout performance on home soil.
- Vithya Ramraj: The athlete from Tamil Nadu, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, is set to participate in the women’s 400m.
The event can be live-streamed on the official YouTube channel of the Athletics Federation of India. There will be no live telecast on Indian television channels.