Odisha, Bhubaneswar – The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Thursday, July 24, 2025, announced the list of Indian athletes eligible to participate in the upcoming World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, which will be held for the first time in India. The competition is set to take place at the state-of-the-art Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on August 10, 2025.
A New Chapter for Indian Athletics
This event marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics, as it hosts a bronze-level global meet, forming the second tier of international one-day track and field competitions after the prestigious Diamond League. The AFI released the list of eligible athletes based on their rankings as of July 12, 2025, confirming the participation of many of India’s top track and field stars.
- International Participation: More than 150 athletes from over 10 countries, including Turkmenistan, Bhutan, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Iraq, Vietnam, the Republic of Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Iran, and the Maldives, are slated to compete.
- Crucial Ranking Points: This meet offers Indian athletes a valuable opportunity to earn World Athletics ranking points (Category C), which are vital for qualification to major international championships, including the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (September 13–21).
Key Directives for Participating Athletes
The AFI has issued strict guidelines for the selected athletes:
- Online Entry Deadline: Athletes must submit their online entry on the AFI Portal before July 31, 2025.
- Mandatory Participation Clause: The AFI has emphasized that any athlete who confirms their entry but then fails to participate in the Bhubaneswar event will not be allowed to take part in the 64th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships 2025. This measure aims to ensure commitment and avoid last-minute withdrawals.
Notable Absences and Indian Stars in Action
While Olympic gold medalist and reigning World Champion Neeraj Chopra will not be competing in this event, several other prominent Indian athletes are set to be in action across various disciplines.
Men’s Eligible Athletes:
- Sprints (100m, 200m, 400m): Includes fast runners like Animesh Kujur, Amlan Borgohain, Manikanta Hoblidhar, Rajesh Ramesh, and Amoj Jacob PA, who will be looking to showcase their speed.
- Middle/Long Distance (800m, 5000m): Features strong contenders such as Mohammed Afsal P, Krishan Kumar, and Gulveer Singh.
- Jumps (Long Jump, Triple Jump): India’s formidable jumpers like M. Sreeshankar, Jeswin Aldrin J (Long Jump), Praveen Chithravel, and Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple Jump) are set to compete.
- Throws (Javelin Throw): While Chopra is absent, the field includes seasoned javelin throwers like Kishore Kumar Jena and Rohit Yadav, alongside Sachin Yadav and Sahil Silwal.
Women’s Eligible Athletes:
- Sprints (100m, 200m, 400m): Top sprinters like Nithya Gandhe, Abinaya Rajarajan, Aishwarya Mishra, and Rupal Chaudhary are listed.
- Middle Distance (800m, 1500m): Features athletes such as Chanda KM and Pooja.
- Hurdles (100m hurdles): Includes specialists like Moumita Mondal and Nithya Ramraj.
- Jumps (Long Jump): India’s leading long jumpers Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan will be the ones to watch.
- Throws (Javelin Throw): National record holder Annu Rani headlines the javelin throw event for women, alongside Jyoti Rakesh and Shilpa Rani.
The Bhubaneswar event is poised to be a crucial platform for Indian athletes to test their mettle against international competition and earn vital ranking points on home soil.
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