Over 1059 athletes, with 709 male track and field participants, will compete at the National Junior (U20) Athletics Competition in Tumkur, Karnataka, starting Friday at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium. This event will serve as a qualifier for the upcoming Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has set the qualification standards for the Asian U20 meet, providing a platform for young athletes to represent India.
The competition will kick off with the 5,000m track races for both men and women. Notable sprinters like Parth Singh from Jharkhand and Bapi Hansda from Odisha will showcase their talent. Singh, who had a successful 2025 season, aims to excel in the men’s 100m dash. Meanwhile, Hansda, an international 400m runner from Odisha, is returning to competition after recovering from an injury sustained during the 2025 National Games.
Among the participants, Kerala’s Mohammed Ashfaq, a rising quarter-miler, is eager to secure a spot in the national team for the Asian U20 Athletics meet. The competition will feature intense battles in various events, with 79 athletes competing in the men’s 100m, 93 in the men’s 200m, and 89 in the quarter-mile race. The women’s 100m dash will determine the fastest female athlete, while medals will be awarded in women’s pole vault and discus throw on the first day.
