Sindhushree G sets national record 4.25m at 65th Inter-State Athletics 2025
Synopsis
Karnataka's Sindhushree G didn't just win gold at the 65th Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar — she broke the national record with a 4.25m vault, eclipsing a mark set just days earlier, and booked her Asian Games 2026 ticket in the process. She was one of 17 athletes to hit qualification standards on a standout Day 2 at Kalinga Stadium.
Key Takeaways
Sindhushree G (Karnataka) set a new national record of 4.25m in women's pole vault on 25 June at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar .
She surpassed the previous national record of 4.23m held by Baranica Elangovan , who took silver at 4.20m .
All three women's pole vault medallists cleared the Asian Games 2026 qualification mark of 4.10m .
17 athletes in total booked Asian Games berths on Day 2 of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships .
Animesh Kujur (Odisha) was the only men's 200m athlete to hit the Asian Games standard, clocking 20.74 seconds .
Mohammed Afsal P (Kerala) won the men's 800m in 1:48.57 seconds , inside the Asian Games qualification time of 1:48.80 .
Sindhushree G of Karnataka rewrote the national record in women's pole vault, clearing 4.25m on Day 2 of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, 25 June. The 26-year-old's gold-medal effort surpassed the Asian Games 2026 qualification mark of 4.10m and eclipsed the previous national record of 4.23m, which had been set by Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu just recently.
Record-Breaking Vault and What It Means
Sindhushree's clearance of 4.25m also bettered the meet record of 4.10m set by Pavithra Venkatesh in 2023. Baranica, the outgoing national record holder, settled for silver with a vault of 4.20m, while Nitika Akare of Madhya Pradesh claimed bronze at 4.10m — making all three podium finishers eligible for the Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, beginning 19 September.
Speaking after her performance, Sindhushree said she had been mentally prepared to secure the Asian Games berth. 'I had trained hard, but the national record was a bonus,' she said.
17 Athletes Book Asian Games Berths on Day 2
The pole vault podium was part of a landmark day at the championships. As many as 17 athletes across disciplines achieved the qualification criteria set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for the Asian Games 2026. In the women's 200m, all three medal winners — Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra, 23.14 secs), Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka, 23.40 secs), and Prakruthi Poopa Rao (Karnataka, 23.58 secs) — cleared the qualification standard of 23.70 seconds. The same sweep occurred in the women's 800m, where Gowthami Jayaraman (Tamil Nadu, 2:04.17), Pooja (Haryana, 2:04.37), and Lili Das (Uttarakhand, 2:04.59) all bettered the 2:05.21 standard.
In women's shot put, all three medallists exceeded the 16.25m qualification mark: Manpreet Kaur (Haryana) led with 17.75m, followed by Srishti Vig (Delhi) at 16.96m and Krishna Jayashankar (Tamil Nadu) at 16.69m.
Key Men's Results: Kujur, Afsal Shine
Animesh Kujur of Odisha was the sole men's sprinter to crack the Asian Games standard in the 200m, clocking 20.74 seconds against a qualification time of 20.88 seconds to take gold. In the men's 800m, Mohammed Afsal P of Kerala won in 1:48.57 seconds — inside the 1:48.80 qualification mark — with Krishan Kumar of Haryana finishing second in 1:48.82 seconds, just edging under the standard as well. 'My goal is to improve my fitness to clock below 1:45 for the 800m in the near future,' Afsal said.
In the men's decathlon, Thowfeeq N (Kerala, 7,276 points) and Kushal Mohite (Maharashtra, 7,251 points) both surpassed the 7,250-point Asian Games mark. The men's discus throw and 21km race walk did not see the qualification standard met on the day.
Full Day 2 Results at a Glance
Men's 200m (Q: 20.88s): Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 20.74s; Dondapathi Mruthy Jayaram (Odisha) 20.97s; Jishnu Prasad PK (Kerala) 21.18s.
Men's 800m (Q: 1:48.80): Mohammed Afsal P (Kerala) 1:48.57; Krishan Kumar (Haryana) 1:48.82; Prathamesh Deore (Maharashtra) 1:48.89.
Men's Discus Throw (Q: 60.13m): Kirpal Singh (Chandigarh) 57.37m; Nirbhay Singh (Haryana) 55.26m; Arjun (Delhi) 54.90m.
Men's 21km Race Walk (Q: 1:25:37.00): Sevin Sebastian (Tamil Nadu) 1:31:49; Sachin Bohra (Uttarakhand) 1:32:10; Ningthoukhongja (Manipur) 1:32:24.
Men's Decathlon (Q: 7,250 pts): Thowfeeq N (Kerala) 7,276 pts; Kushal Mohite (Maharashtra) 7,251 pts; Jasbir Nayak (Odisha) 7,131 pts.
Women's 200m (Q: 23.70s): Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) 23.14s; Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 23.40s; Prakruthi Poopa Rao (Karnataka) 23.58s.
Women's 800m (Q: 2:05.21): Gowthami Jayaraman (Tamil Nadu) 2:04.17; Pooja (Haryana) 2:04.37; Lili Das (Uttarakhand) 2:04.59.
Women's Shot Put (Q: 16.25m): Manpreet Kaur (Haryana) 17.75m; Krishna Jayashankar (Tamil Nadu) 16.69m; Srishti Vig (Delhi) 16.96m.
Women's Pole Vault (Q: 4.10m): Sindhushree G (Karnataka) 4.25m (NR); Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) 4.20m; Nitika Akare (Madhya Pradesh) 4.10m.
With the championships continuing, more athletes are expected to chase down remaining Asian Games qualification marks in the days ahead.
Point of View
But the broader story from Bhubaneswar is structural: Indian women's pole vault now has three athletes who can clear 4.10m or better, a depth that simply did not exist two years ago. The fact that the national record has been broken and immediately broken again within a short window points to a competitive cohort pushing each other upward — exactly the kind of internal rivalry that produces Olympic-level athletes. The AFI's decision to use the Inter-State Championships as an Asian Games qualifying event has clearly sharpened competitive intent. Whether that momentum translates to a medal at Aichi-Nagoya will depend on how quickly Sindhushree can close the gap to the Asian elite, where the bar routinely clears 4.50m and above.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Sindhushree G set at the Inter-State Athletics Championships?
Sindhushree G cleared 4.25m in women's pole vault at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar on 25 June, surpassing the previous national record of 4.23m set by Baranica Elangovan. The clearance also exceeded the Asian Games 2026 qualification mark of 4.10m.
How many athletes qualified for Asian Games 2026 on Day 2 in Bhubaneswar?
A total of 17 athletes achieved the Athletics Federation of India's qualification standards for the Asian Games 2026 on Day 2 at Kalinga Stadium. They came from events including women's 200m, 800m, shot put, pole vault, men's 200m, 800m, and decathlon.
When and where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , beginning 19 September 2026 . Athletics events at the championships in Bhubaneswar are being used as a qualifying platform by the Athletics Federation of India.
Who won the men's 200m and 800m at the 65th Inter-State Athletics on Day 2?
Animesh Kujur of Odisha won the men's 200m in 20.74 seconds , the only athlete to clear the Asian Games standard of 20.88s. Mohammed Afsal P of Kerala won the men's 800m in 1:48.57 seconds , with Krishan Kumar of Haryana finishing second in 1:48.82s — both inside the 1:48.80 qualification mark.
What is the significance of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships?
The 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, is serving as a key Asian Games 2026 qualification event for Indian athletics. Athletes who meet the standards set by the Athletics Federation of India across their respective events earn selection consideration for the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
