Indian Athletics Series Final on Sep 10: Asian Games squad, 31 events, ₹1 lakh prize
Synopsis
India's top track and field athletes — including the Asian Games-bound squad — will converge on Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on 10 September for the Indian Athletics Series Final. With 31 events, ₹1 lakh on the line for winners, and Neeraj Chopra sitting second behind Rohit Yadav's 87.05m, the meet is shaping up as a high-stakes pre-Games showdown.
Key Takeaways
The Indian Athletics Series Final is scheduled for 10 September at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , New Delhi.
The meet covers 31 events — 15 men's and 16 women's — with the Asian Games-bound squad among the invitees.
Top 8 ranked athletes per event qualify; top 12 in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase.
Entry confirmation deadline is 10 August ; rankings are based on the 65th National Inter-State Championships (24–28 June, Bhubaneswar).
Neeraj Chopra (85.69m) is ranked second in men's javelin behind Rohit Yadav (87.05m).
Winners in each event receive ₹1,00,000 in prize money.
The Indian Athletics Series Final, a one-day invitational prize-money meet scheduled for 10 September at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will feature top-ranked Indian athletes across 31 events — including members of the Asian Games-bound squad heading to Japan. The meet is being organised under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Selection and Entry Process
AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo confirmed that competitors will be invited based on their rankings in respective events. The top eight ranked athletes in each track and field event qualify for the Grand Final, while the top 12 ranked athletes are eligible in the men's and women's 1500m and 3000m steeplechase.
Invitations have already been dispatched to eligible athletes, with the deadline to confirm entries set at 10 August. Should any of the top eight decline, the next best-ranked athlete from among four reserves will step in.
Who Leads the Rankings
Rankings are based on performances recorded up to the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, held between 24 and 28 June in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Several national record holders and Olympians sit atop their respective event rankings at the halfway mark of the 2026 season.
Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra, with a season-best of 85.69m, is ranked second in men's javelin behind Rohit Yadav, who leads at 87.05m. National record holder and India's fastest male sprinter Gurindervir Singh tops the men's 100m, while Animesh Kujur leads the 200m. National record holder Vishal TK heads the 400m, and Sarvesh Anil Kushare — the newly crowned champion — leads men's high jump. Sreeshankar Murali, with a season best of 8.38m, is No 1 in men's long jump.
In the women's category, Vithya Ramraj leads both the 400m and 400m hurdles. Middle-distance runner Pooja tops both the 800m and 1500m. Praul Chaudhary heads women's 3000m steeplechase. Sprinter-hurdler Jyoti Yarraji, with a season best of 12.99 seconds, holds the No 1 spot in women's 100m hurdles. Pooja Singh leads women's high jump, and Ancy Sojan tops women's long jump.
Prize Money and Event List
The top six finishers in each event will be eligible for prize money, with the winner taking home ₹1,00,000. The meet covers 15 men's events — including sprints, middle distance, hurdles, steeplechase, and field events — and 16 women's events, which additionally include the discus throw.
What This Meet Signals
The Indian Athletics Series Final serves as a key competitive platform ahead of the Asian Games, giving selectors a final look at form and fitness. Notably, the presence of the Japan-bound contingent means the meet doubles as a high-stakes dress rehearsal. With Neeraj Chopra ranked second domestically — behind Rohit Yadav's 87.05m — the javelin contest alone is worth watching closely.
Point of View
A reversal that would have been unthinkable two years ago. Whether that gap reflects Chopra's managed workload or a genuine shift in the event's domestic hierarchy is a question the 10 September meet may begin to answer. AFI's decision to peg prize money to ranking-based qualification also nudges the series toward meritocracy, though the ₹1 lakh winner's purse remains modest by international standards.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Indian Athletics Series Final 2026?
The Indian Athletics Series Final is scheduled for 10 September 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. It is a one-day invitational prize-money meet organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Who is eligible to compete in the Indian Athletics Series Final?
The top eight ranked athletes in each track and field event are eligible, while the top 12 qualify in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase. Rankings are based on performances up to the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships held in Bhubaneswar in June 2026. Athletes must confirm entries by 10 August.
What is the prize money at the Indian Athletics Series Final?
The top six finishers in each event are eligible for prize money, with the winner receiving ₹1,00,000. The meet covers 31 events across men's and women's categories.
Where does Neeraj Chopra stand in the current rankings?
Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra is ranked second in men's javelin with a season best of 85.69m, behind Rohit Yadav who leads at 87.05m, according to rankings based on the National Inter-State Championships.
Which Indian women athletes are leading their events ahead of the Final?
Vithya Ramraj tops both the 400m and 400m hurdles; Pooja leads the 800m and 1500m; Jyoti Yarraji holds the No 1 spot in 100m hurdles with 12.99 seconds; Pooja Singh leads high jump; and Ancy Sojan heads long jump, according to current AFI rankings.
