Bhubaneswar: The inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships concluded on a high note at the Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar, delivering a mix of record-breaking performances, emerging talent and dramatic moments over two days of competition.
The biggest highlight came in the men’s 60m final, where Punjab’s Gurvindervir Singh sprinted into the record books. In a race marred by three false starts that reduced the field to five athletes, Gurvindervir kept his composure to clock 6.60 seconds, bettering the previous national indoor record of 6.67 seconds set in 2022.
“It was a good start to the 2026 season. I hope to sustain my efforts in outdoor races,” he said after securing gold for Reliance.
The high-profile sprint final saw national outdoor champion Animesh Kujur disqualified after a false start, alongside Dondapti Mrutyam Jayaram and Nehal Sagar, adding unexpected drama to the event. Odisha’s Lalu Prasad Bhoi (6.65s) and Haryana’s Nuzrat (6.71s) finished second and third respectively.
In the women’s 60m, Maharashtra’s Harita Bhandra claimed gold with a strong run of 7.32 seconds, ahead of Unnathi Bollanda and Trisha Nair.
Beyond the sprints, the championships showcased depth across disciplines. Mohammed Sinan (48.27s) dominated the men’s 400m, while Vinod Singh (3:46.13) took the 1500m title. In field events, Tamil Nadu’s Reegan G impressed with a 5.30m clearance in pole vault, and Vimal Mukesh clinched triple jump gold with 15.41m. Odisha’s Swadhin Kumar Majhi topped the high jump with 2.18m.
The junior (U20) categories also reflected India’s growing talent pipeline. Kshitij Sunil (6.78s) and Umesh Sahani (49.14s) stood out in the boys’ sprints, while Dolamani Chirgun won the 3000m. In field events, Basant cleared 2.16m in the U20 high jump.
On the women’s side, Kumari Saloni Nagar won the 400m, while Priyanka C secured the 1500m title. Mallala Anusha (13.20m) and Nimisha Dayma led a strong showing in the triple jump, while Payal Jamod and Kevinna Ashwine shared top honours in high jump. Among juniors, Kajal Hirabhai Vaja and Sai Chinthana Senthil were standout performers in the 60m and 400m respectively, while West Bengal athletes made a mark in the U20 high jump.
With a national record, multiple standout performances and strong participation across categories, the championships not only marked a successful debut for indoor athletics at the national level but also set the tone for an exciting 2026 season ahead.
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