65th Inter-State Athletics Day 3: 13 athletes breach Asian Games qualifying mark in Bhubaneswar
Synopsis
Six male triple jumpers clearing the Asian Games mark in a single event was the standout moment of Day Three in Bhubaneswar — but the headline number is 13: the total athletes who breached qualification standards across hammer throw, discus throw, hurdles, and triple jump. The AFI selection committee now has an enviable problem of depth as it finalises India's Asian Games athletics squad.
Key Takeaways
13 athletes breached Asian Games qualification standards on Day 3 of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar .
Praveen Chithravel won men's triple jump gold with 16.92m ; all top six jumpers cleared the 16.28m qualification mark.
Damneet Singh (Punjab) won men's hammer throw gold with 69.72m , beating the 69.12m qualification standard.
Three Haryana athletes — Seema ( 59.73m ), Sanya Yadav, and Nidhi — swept the women's discus throw podium, all qualifying for the Asian Games.
National record holder Tejas Shirse clocked 13.61 seconds in the men's 110m hurdles, dipping under the 13.63-second qualification time.
The AFI selection committee will name the Asian Games squad after the Bhubaneswar championship concludes.
As many as 13 athletes breached the Asian Games qualification standards on Day Three of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday, 26 June, with six male triple jumpers headlining a dominant evening session. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection committee will finalise the Asian Games-bound contingent after the Bhubaneswar competition concludes, with two athletes slated to represent India in each track and field event.
Triple Jump Dominates the Field
Praveen Chithravel led a sweeping performance in the men's triple jump, opening with a leap of 16.92m to claim gold — comfortably clearing the Asian Games qualification mark of 16.28m. He was followed by Karthik U of Kerala (16.80m) and Selva Prabhu of Tamil Nadu (16.79m), making it six triple jumpers in total who crossed the qualification threshold. It was among the most emphatic collective performances of the championship so far.
Hammer Throw and Discus Throw Deliver Qualification Marks
Punjab's Damneet Singh opened the evening field events by hurling the hammer to 69.72m, winning gold and surpassing the Asian Games qualification mark of 69.12m. Rajasthan's Praveen Kumar also qualified with a silver-winning throw of 69.58m, while Haryana's Ashish Jakhar finished third with 67.61m.
The women's discus throw arena produced an equally commanding display. Three Haryana athletes — Seema, Sanya Yadav, and Nidhi — finished in that order, all clearing the qualification mark of 55.48m. Seema's winning throw of 59.73m was the standout effort of the trio.
Track Highlights: Hurdles and Relay Action
National record holder Tejas Shirse of Maharashtra was a commanding winner in the men's 110m hurdles, clocking 13.61 seconds — faster than the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games qualification time of 13.63 seconds. He finished ahead of Manav R of Tamil Nadu (13.66 seconds) and Krishik M of Karnataka (13.69 seconds).
In the women's 400m hurdles heats, Vithya Ramraj of Tamil Nadu posted 56.69 seconds, keeping her Asian Games qualification hopes firmly alive. On the relay front, Odisha's men clocked 39.92 seconds to win the 4x100m, while Karnataka's women took the corresponding event in 44.75 seconds. Tamil Nadu edged Punjab by a razor-thin margin of 0.03 seconds in the mixed 4x400m relay, finishing in 3:23.51.
Full Day 3 Results
Men — 110m Hurdles (AG Q Time: 13.63s): Tejas Shirse (Maharashtra) 13.61s; Manav R (Tamil Nadu) 13.66s; Krishik M (Karnataka) 13.69s.
Men — Hammer Throw (AG Q Mark: 69.12m): Damneet Singh (Punjab) 69.72m; Praveen Kumar (Rajasthan) 69.58m; Ashish Jakhar (Haryana) 67.61m.
Men — Triple Jump (AG Q Mark: 16.28m): Praveen Chithravel (Tamil Nadu) 16.92m; Karthik U (Kerala) 16.80m; Selva Prabhu (Tamil Nadu) 16.79m.
Men — 4x100m Relay: Odisha 39.92s; Tamil Nadu 40.02s; Maharashtra 40.37s.
Women — Discus Throw (AG Q Mark: 55.48m): Seema (Haryana) 59.73m; Sanya Yadav (Haryana) 56.05m; Nidhi (Haryana) 55.92m.
Women — 21km Race Walk (AG Q Time: 1:37:20.00): Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:05.00; Reshma Patel (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:48.00; Sejla Anil Singh (Maharashtra) 1:46:31.00.
Women — 4x100m Relay: Karnataka 44.75s; Tamil Nadu 45.07s; Maharashtra 46.21s. Odisha's women's team did not finish.
Mixed — 4x400m Relay: Tamil Nadu 3:23.51; Punjab 3:23.54; Rajasthan 3:23.85.
With the championship still underway, the AFI selection committee is expected to announce India's Asian Games athletics squad once all events at Bhubaneswar are concluded.
Point of View
Particularly triple jump and discus throw. Yet the AFI's rule of sending only two athletes per event means several of Friday's qualifiers will be left out, raising questions about whether the selection framework is keeping pace with the depth of talent on display. Haryana's clean sweep of the women's discus podium and Tamil Nadu's dominance in triple jump also highlight a widening state-level performance gap that national selectors cannot afford to ignore.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many athletes qualified for the Asian Games on Day 3 of the Inter-State Athletics Championship?
A total of 13 athletes breached Asian Games qualification standards on Day 3 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 26 June. The qualifiers came from men's triple jump, men's hammer throw, women's discus throw, and men's 110m hurdles.
Who won the men's triple jump at the 65th Inter-State Athletics Championship?
Praveen Chithravel of Tamil Nadu won gold with an opening jump of 16.92m, well above the Asian Games qualification mark of 16.28m. Five other competitors also cleared the qualification standard in the same event.
When will the AFI announce India's Asian Games athletics squad?
The Athletics Federation of India selection committee will decide the Asian Games contingent after the Bhubaneswar championship concludes. Two athletes will be selected to represent India in each track and field event.
Which state dominated the women's discus throw at the Inter-State Athletics Championship?
Haryana swept all three podium positions in the women's discus throw, with Seema (59.73m), Sanya Yadav (56.05m), and Nidhi (55.92m) all surpassing the Asian Games qualification mark of 55.48m.
What was Tejas Shirse's time in the men's 110m hurdles?
Tejas Shirse of Maharashtra clocked 13.61 seconds to win gold, narrowly bettering the Asian Games qualification time of 13.63 seconds. He is described as the national record holder in the event.
