Indian Athletes Gear Up for 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in China
Excitement Builds for Upcoming Championships
Indian athletes Manikanta Hoblidhar, Pragyan Prasant Sahu, and Moumita Mondal are eagerly anticipating the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026, scheduled for February 6 to 8 in Tianjin, China.
Preparation of the Indian Team
In preparation for the championships, the Indian team held a pre-competition training camp at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from January 23 to February 2, providing athletes with top-notch training facilities.
The contingent includes prominent athletes such as 100m sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar, emerging long jump talent Moumita Mondal, Ancy Sojan, and hurdler Pragyan Prasant Sahu from Odisha.
Manikanta Hoblidhar Aims for National Record
Manikanta Hoblidhar views the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships as a significant opportunity. He stressed the necessity of a strong start, mentioning improvements in his block start technique, and aims to secure a medal while breaking the national record.
In his own words, Hoblidhar stated, "This is a major opportunity. I hope to win a medal. Indoor competitions differ greatly from outdoor ones. A strong start is vital in the 60m; if I start well, I can win early. My block start was previously a weakness, but my acceleration has improved. I am dedicated to enhancing my start. My goal is to win a medal and set a new national record."
Pragyan Sahu's First International Competition
Pragyan Prashanti Sahu expressed her enthusiasm about representing India in the 60m hurdles. She views the Championships as an opportunity to refine her technique for the first six hurdles, which will aid her in outdoor events.
"This is my first senior international competition, and I am thrilled to represent India. I didn't expect this opportunity so early in the season, but my ranking from last year made it possible. I am very excited to compete in the 60-meter hurdles at the World Championships in China. I see this as a chance to improve my initial hurdles, which will help me in outdoor races," Sahu shared.
Moumita Mondal's Historic Dual Selection
Moumita Mondal, who has been selected for both the Long Jump and 60m Hurdles at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, expressed her gratitude and excitement. She noted that she is the first Indian woman to achieve selections in two events and is eager to compete in both.
"I am grateful for this opportunity, as I have been striving for it over the past two years. My short hurdles are stronger than my 100m hurdles. When I received this chance, I pushed hard for it. I am the first woman to be selected for two events. Competing in the long jump and the 60-meter hurdles will be incredibly exciting for us," Mondal stated.