A sizeable and competitive Indian contingent has been entered for the Taiwan Athletics Open 2025, scheduled to be held on June 7–8 at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
This event, classified as a World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze (C category) meet, is a vital stop in the lead-up to major global competitions and carries crucial World Athletics ranking points. Taipei City Meet Offers Key Ranking Points & Global Exposure for Indian Athletes
As per the official entry list published on the event website, India is set to field over 20 athletes, with representatives in both track and field events. Notably, this competition comes just days after the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in South Korea, with the Indian team likely to travel directly to Taipei from there.
The provisional entries reflect a focused approach by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in securing international exposure and qualification points for its athletes ahead of global meets like the World Championships and World Athletics Final.
Women Athletes to Watch
The women’s squad includes several national and international medalists:
- Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan are entered in the long jump, setting up an exciting contest. Both Shaili and Ancy were on the podium at the Asian Championships, will look to build rhythm heading into the European season.
- Annu Rani, India’s top javelin thrower and a regular at global events, will return to international competition. This will be an important test as she rebuilds form after a quiet early season.
- Middle-distance runners Twinkle and Pooja are entered in the 800m, with Pooja also listed for the 1500m—a double that could test her endurance and tactics.
- The sprint hurdles events will feature Jyothi Yarraji, India’s national record holder in the 100m hurdles, alongside Sapna Sahu. Yarraji will be keen to rebound after narrowly missing gold at the Asian Championships.
- Vithya Ramraj, fresh from a strong season in the 400m hurdles, is expected to continue her push toward consistent sub-56 performances.
- India has also entered a women’s 4x100m relay team, likely composed of sprinters who participated in Bangkok and Gumi.
Men’s Entries Reflect Strategic Focus
On the men’s side, several athletes with Asian-level experience will line up in Taipei:
- Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker, two of India’s top triple jumpers, are set to compete. Aboobacker, the 2022 Asian Games silver medallist, will aim to reach the 17m mark once again.
- In the javelin, Rohit Yadav, returning after injury recovery and a consistent domestic season, is entered. His presence suggests a deeper rotation in India’s elite javelin setup beyond Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena.
- Mohammed Afsal, Anu Kumar, and Krishan Kumar are the three entries in the 800m. All have previously medalled at national and continental levels, and the depth reflects India’s strength in the two-lap event.
- Tejas Shirse, who has been clocking improved times this season, will compete in the 110m hurdles, while Palaksha is the entry in the 400m hurdles.
- India has also registered entries in both the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, a sign that AFI is exploring options to firm up its relay pools ahead of the Asian Games 2026 and possibly the World Relays.
Strategic Meet for Ranking and Development
The Taiwan Athletics Open, being a WACT Bronze category meet, does not just offer a platform for competition—it also provides ranking points critical for qualification to major events like the 2025 World Athletics Championships and 2026 Asian Games.
Participation here also offers Indian athletes the chance to face competitors from across Asia and the Pacific, giving them exposure to varied competition styles and conditions—a crucial element in long-term athletic development.
With international training stints, overseas exposure, and a widening domestic talent pool, India’s athletics program appears to be using events like Taipei strategically. The presence of established names alongside emerging talents reflects a plan that balances performance goals with nurturing the next wave of international medal contenders.
Whether or not every entered athlete makes the trip will depend on visa processing and AFI’s final clearance, but the message is clear: India is aiming to be a consistent force across multiple disciplines in Asia—and beyond.
Follow @IndiaSportsHub for live updates from Taipei on June 7–8.
