Odisha's Impact on Indian Athletics: Acknowledgment from World Athletics VP

Sumariwalla Commends Odisha's Athletics Development

Adille J Sumariwalla, the Vice President of World Athletics, has lauded the Odisha government for its significant role in enhancing athletics in India. He noted that the improved support systems are evident in the athletes' performances and their ability to meet qualification standards. During the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, Sumariwalla remarked that targeted assistance has enabled Indian athletes to consistently achieve and surpass the benchmarks required for major international competitions.

"The efforts of the Odisha government are commendable, and the results speak for themselves. When we provide adequate support, athletes excel. They are qualifying for every event, and it’s not merely about meeting the minimum standards for the Asian Games; athletes are achieving podium finishes that align with the criteria," he stated.

He emphasized the increasing depth in Indian athletics, noting that numerous athletes are qualifying across various events, showcasing a remarkable enhancement in overall standards. "Seeing 10 or 11 athletes qualifying across events illustrates the improvement in standards," Sumariwalla expressed. "We remain optimistic about the Asian Games and I am confident we will perform better than before," he added.

Gold Medalists Aim for Asian Championship Success

Manpreet Kaur, the gold medallist in women's shot put, is determined to surpass the 18-metre mark in her upcoming competitions after a strong showing this season. "The qualifying mark was 16.35, and I recently achieved a throw of 17.75. My goal is to reach the 18-plus mark in future events. I am currently training at NIS Patiala with excellent coaching, and my focus is on continuous improvement... I have been working diligently towards winning a medal," she shared.

Meanwhile, Harita Bhadra, who clinched gold in the women's 200m, is now targeting an Asian medal following her new personal best this season. "My previous best was 23.9 seconds, and I clocked 23.14 seconds today... Now that I have qualified, my next goal is to secure a medal at the Asian level, and I am already training for that. I approached this competition with the mindset of having already qualified, so my preparation for the Asian event has been ongoing," she stated.