Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Mar 24: The inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships got underway at Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday, marking a significant step forward for track and field in India.
The two-day event has attracted 278 entries, including 97 women, and will feature competitions across senior and under-20 categories. Organisers said the meet aims to strengthen the country’s indoor athletics calendar while offering athletes early-season competitive exposure.
Among the key participants, rising Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur will compete in the men’s 60 metres, looking to build momentum ahead of the 2026 season. Tamil Nadu’s Praveen Chithravel, an international-level jumper, is set to take part in the men’s long jump event.
The championships will kick off with the men’s 3,000 metres as the first medal event on the opening day, with the competition scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.