Indian athletics has entered a decisive phase in its high-performance journey.
The latest TOPS Core Group and Development Group selections underline a clear shift in philosophy from broad inclusion to sharply defined excellence. With the road to the 2026 Asian Games and Los Angeles 2028 firmly in sight, the Athletics Federation of India and the Mission Olympic Cell have made it evident that sustained international competitiveness, not just promise, will now determine elite backing.
At the centre of this structure is a compact Core Group featuring five athletes: Avinash Sable, Neeraj Chopra, Sreeshankar Murali, Sarvesh Kushare and Sachin Yadav. Each name reflects proven global relevance rather than domestic dominance alone.
Neeraj Chopra remains the sport’s undisputed standard-bearer an Olympic and world champion whose presence continues to anchor India’s javelin ambitions. Avinash Sable’s consistency in the 3000m steeplechase has turned him into a regular global finalist, a rarity for Indian middle-distance runners. Murali Sreeshankar, despite injury interruptions, has established himself as India’s most reliable long jumper on the international circuit.
The inclusions of Sachin Yadav and Sarvesh Kushare are particularly telling. Yadav’s rapid rise in the javelin has given India genuine depth in an event that was once a one-man show. Kushare’s breakthrough becoming the first Indian high jumper to reach a World Championships final represents a technical event finally crossing a psychological barrier. Their elevation reflects a system increasingly willing to reward performance under pressure rather than reputation.
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If the Core Group represents immediate medal potential, the Development Group is where the long-term story of Indian athletics is being written. The list is expansive, but not unfocused. It spans sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, jumps, throws and relays with a noticeable emphasis on events where Asian and global competitiveness is realistically achievable within one Olympic cycle.
In women’s athletics, the depth is striking. Jyothi Yarraji and Vithya Ramraj anchor the hurdles programme, both already proven at continental level. Parul Chaudhary continues to lead India’s distance resurgence, while Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan form the backbone of a new generation in the horizontal jumps. The inclusion of Pooja (800m/1500m) and Jisna Mathew shows renewed faith in middle-distance development, an area where India has often lacked continuity.
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The women’s sprint ecosystem is also being quietly rebuilt. Names like Sneha S S, Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan, Sakshi Chavan, Sudeshna Shivankar and Angel Silvia are part of a deliberate attempt to construct sustainable relay pools rather than rely on fleeting individual peaks. This approach acknowledges a hard truth medals in modern athletics often come through collective depth.
On the men’s side, the emphasis on structural strength is even clearer. Tejaswin Shankar, Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker ensure India remains competitive in the combined events and triple jump, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor continues to be backed as a proven shot put medal prospect despite fluctuating seasons.
Perhaps most encouraging is the consolidation in the 400m and relay ecosystem. Rajesh Ramesh, Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal, Vishal T K, Jay Kumar and Santhosh Kumar T represent continuity from India’s recent relay success, with enough internal competition to prevent stagnation. The inclusion of younger quarter-milers alongside established names reflects a lesson learned from past cycles — relays cannot be built in a single season.
Middle-distance running also sees careful calibration. Ajay Kumar Saroj, Yoonus Shah and Gulveer Singh form a group that balances experience with emerging tactical maturity, especially vital in Asian championship racing where positioning often matters more than raw time.
Overall, the composition of these groups points to a system that is finally aligning resources with realistic performance pathways. There is less sentiment, more selectivity and a growing insistence that athletes prove themselves repeatedly, not once.
The challenge now lies beyond selection lists. Conversion of finals into medals, potential into consistency remains Indian athletics’ biggest hurdle. But with a clearly tiered structure, defined accountability and visible technical depth across disciplines, the framework is stronger than it has ever been.
This is no longer about chasing participation. It is about staying relevant and competitive on the biggest stages.
