Bhubaneswar: The opening day of the National Indoor Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium witnessed a series of impressive performances, including a standout record-breaking effort in women’s pole vault.
The event also marks a significant moment for Indian athletics, with officials noting that hosting the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar will further strengthen Odisha’s position as the sports capital of India.
One of the biggest highlights of the day came from Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu, who set a new national indoor record in women’s pole vault, clearing 4.22 metres. Her remarkable performance not only secured the gold medal but also marked a historic moment in Indian indoor athletics, showcasing the rising standards in field events.
In the men’s 800m event, Mohammed Afsal of Air Force clinched the top spot with a timing of 1:47.86 seconds, followed by Kalyan JR (Karnataka) and Sayan Karmakar (West Bengal). In the U-20 category, Lokesh Magendhiran (Tamil Nadu) secured first place.
The men’s 3,000m race saw Shivaji Parashuram dominate with a timing of 8:09.88 seconds, while Vinod Singh and Rahul Kumar Verma finished second and third respectively.
In hurdles, Krishik M (Karnataka) led the men’s 60m hurdles with a time of 7.71 seconds, edging past Rathish P and Muhammed Lazan.
Odisha’s Sarun Payasingh brought cheer to the home crowd by winning the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.80m, narrowly ahead of Praveen Chithravel. In men’s shot put, Ravi Kumar (BSF) topped the event with a throw of 17.17m.
In the U-20 shot put category, Odisha’s Ommkar Prasad Nand impressed with a winning throw of 17.77m.
Among women, Priyanka C (Karnataka) clinched the 3,000m title, while Odisha’s Sushmita Tigga finished third. In shot put, Rekha (NCOE Patiala) secured the top position.
With strong performances across categories, Day 1 of the championship highlighted the growing depth of talent in Indian athletics, setting up an exciting finish to the competition.
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