Reliance Foundation Athletes Shine at National Inter-State Championships

Outstanding Performances at Kalinga Stadium

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) witnessed remarkable achievements on Day 2 of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships held at Kalinga Stadium. Athletes from the Reliance Foundation secured six spots for the Asian Games 2026 across various track and field disciplines.

The sprint events were particularly impressive, with Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra leading the charge by winning Gold medals in the Men's and Women's 200m races, respectively.

Emerging talent Unnathi Aiyappa also made her mark, earning a Silver medal in the Women's 200m. In the middle-distance category, seasoned runner Md Afsal showcased his skills by clinching Gold in the Men's 800m, as reported in a press release.

Field events contributed to the success story, with Krishna Menon taking home a Silver in Shot Put and Baranica E achieving Silver in the Women's Pole Vault. All six athletes met the selection criteria, marking a triumphant second day for the Reliance Foundation as they aim to represent India at the continental level in Japan later this year.

On the previous day, athlete Jyothi Yarraji made a remarkable return after 383 days away from competition, winning Gold and clocking a time of 13.14 seconds in the women's 100m hurdles, thus securing her place for the Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

Mohammed Afsal also achieved the qualifying standard for the Asian Games in the men's 800m event, finishing with a time of 1:47.69 minutes.