Two-time Asian Indoor shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will head the 17-member Indian squad at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China from February 6 to 8. The Athletics Federation of India revealed the team composition, featuring promising shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill, set to depart on February 3 for the event. Toor, known for his gold-winning throw of 19.72m at the 11th Asian Indoor meet in Tehran, holds a national outdoor record of 21.77m.
Promising long jumper Shahnawaz Khan and experienced triple jumper Praveen Chithravel are also set to kick off their 2026 season at the Asian Indoor Championships. Notable names like Tejaswin Shankar in heptathlon and Manikanta Hoblidhar in the 60m event are part of the men’s team for the upcoming championships. On the women’s side, top sprinters Nithya Gandhe and Abhinaya Rajarajan will compete in the 60m dash, while Moumita Mondal is set for both the 60m hurdles and women’s long jump.
In the previous edition held in Iran, India’s 13-member squad clinched four medals, including three gold and one silver. The standout performances were from shot putter Toor, hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, and Harmilan Bains, with Ankita securing the sole silver in the women’s 3000m race. The Indian national athletics team for the upcoming championships includes athletes like Manikanta Hoblidhar, Tejas Shirse, J Adrash Ram, CV Anurag, Shahnawaz Khan, Praveen Chithravel, Samardeep Singh Gill, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Tejaswin Shankar, Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan, Moumita Mondal, Pragyan Prasanti Sahu, Pooja, Ancy Sojan, Yogita, and KA Anamika.
