The evening session of the South Asian Senior Athletics Championships 2025 in Ranchi is set to feature a high-stakes display of endurance and speed as India’s top athletes prepare for the men’s and women’s 5000m finals and the 100m sprint heats.
With season-best timings indicating promising form, Indian athletes are poised to challenge the region’s best for medals under the floodlights at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium.
Men’s 5000m Final (20:00 hrs): Prince Kumar & Mohit Choudhary Lead India’s Charge
The men’s 5000m final will see eight competitors representing five nations, with India’s Prince Kumar and Mohit Choudhary both entering the race on the back of strong domestic seasons. Prince holds a season best of 14:05.48, while Mohit comes in with 14:09.71, making them among the fastest entrants in the field. The race, however, will be highly competitive Sri Lanka’s Vicknaraj Vakshan, Nepal’s Ganesh Rawat, and Bhutan’s Dechen Ugyen have also shown solid form in recent months.
Nepal’s Mukesh Bahadur Pal (SB: 14:19.65) and Bhutan’s Gawa Zangpo, who holds a national record of 14:33.43, round out the field. For India, the focus will be on maintaining tactical discipline and matching Sri Lanka’s closing pace over the final kilometer. Both Prince and Mohit have shown the ability to sustain fast splits in humid conditions an advantage that could prove decisive tonight.
Women’s 5000m Final (20:20 hrs): Seema and Sanjana Aim to Continue India’s Distance Legacy
In the women’s 5000m final, India will be represented by Seema and Sanjana Singh, both among the most promising long-distance runners in South Asia this season. Seema, the World University 2025 silver medallist, has been in exceptional form with a season best of 15:30.70, comfortably among the fastest in the region. Her ability to set the pace early and sustain it through the middle stages makes her one of the top medal contenders.
Her teammate Sanjana Singh, who claimed silver at both the Junior Federation and Open Athletics 2025, has recorded a season best of 16:03.23. The duo will line up against Sri Lanka’s H.M. Chamini Samudika Herath (17:00.54) and W.A. Methmi Wijesuriya (15:52.60, NR), Bhutan’s Samten Dema, and Nepal’s Santoshi Shrestha (17:05.30). With a balanced field of eight athletes, the final promises to be a tactical contest between India and Sri Lanka, two nations that have historically dominated women’s distance running in South Asia.
Women’s 100m Heats (19:45 hrs): Jilna M V & Sudeshna Shivankar in Contention
The women’s 100m sprint heats will feature 10 athletes across two heats, with India fielding Jilna M V and Sudeshna Shivankar both entering with season-best times of 11.63 seconds. They’ll face tough opposition from Sri Lanka’s Mohammad Yamick Fathima (SB: 11.51s) and Dewa Amasha De Silva (SB: 11.55s), two of the fastest sprinters in the region this season. The Maldivian Saleem Aishath Shabaa (12.40s) and Bangladesh’s Akter Shirin (11.95s, NR) also feature in the lineup.
The top three from each heat, plus two fastest losers, will qualify for the final at 21:10 IST. With both Indians posting consistent times under 11.70s this season, qualification to the final looks well within reach though the battle for podium spots will likely come down to marginal starts and reaction times.
Men’s 100m Heats (19:30 hrs): Gurav & Raut Target Sub-10.3 Form
India’s Pranav Gurav and Harsh Raut are set to compete in the men’s 100m heats, entering with strong season bests of 10.27s and 10.38s, respectively. They’ll face Sri Lanka’s Yodasinghege Chamod, who shares the same SB of 10.27s, making him one of the biggest threats in the lineup. With Nepal’s Ismail Md (10.70s) and Bhutan’s Passang Dorji also part of the field, the heats starting at 19:30 IST will serve as a preview to what could be a thrilling final later in the night at 21:45 IST.
India vs Sri Lanka: Sprint Showdown Set for South Asian Athletics Championships in Ranchi
Both Indian sprinters are known for their explosive starts and strong mid-race acceleration. Gurav, in particular, has shown improved form since the Federation Cup earlier this year and will be eager to break the 10.25 mark in the final.
As the evening unfolds in Ranchi, India enters the finals with four key athletes carrying strong medal potential Seema in the women’s 5000m, Prince Kumar in the men’s 5000m, and the sprint duo Sudeshna Shivankar and Jilna M V in the women’s 100m. With most Indian athletes entering on the back of their season-best form, expectations are high for multiple podium finishes once the lights come on at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Data Courtesy NNIS
