India Gears Up to Host Its First Continental Tour Bronze: AFI Names 134 Athletes for Historic Bhubaneswar Meet
In a landmark moment for Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has released the list of 134 domestic athletes nominated to compete at the upcoming World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet, set to be held in Bhubaneswar.
Scheduled for August this year, this will be India’s first-ever Bronze-level Continental Tour meet, bringing international-standard competition to home soil and offering valuable World Ranking points for athletes targeting the World Championships and other global events.
The list, announced based on national rankings as of 12th July 2025, features a mix of India’s biggest names and promising emerging talent, spanning 16 events across sprints, middle- and long-distance races, hurdles, jumps, and throws. For many, this is more than just another domestic meet; it’s a critical platform to gain international exposure, improve rankings, and prepare for the global stage.
Building Depth Across Sprints and Middle-Distance
One of the most striking features of the nominations is the sheer depth India has built in the sprint and middle-distance disciplines in recent years.
Men’s Sprints
In the men’s 100m, national record holder and Asian Games finalist Animesh Kujur headlines a powerful list that also includes experienced sprinter Amlan Borgohain, the speedy Manikanta Hoblidhar, and rising names like Pranav Gurav and Ragul Kumar G. Their presence reflects India’s growing sprint pool, with multiple athletes consistently clocking sub-10.3s and sub-10.4s times a level unthinkable a decade ago.
The 200m nominations double up with many of these sprinters, joined by specialists like Vishal T K and Nithin B, showing how Indian athletes now have the confidence and fitness to challenge in multiple events.
In the 400m, the nominations read like a who’s who of India’s formidable relay strength: national relay anchors Amoj Jacob, Rajesh Ramesh, and Rince Joseph, along with consistent finalists like Jay Kumar and Manu T S. Their consistent sub-46s and sub-45.5s performances have made India’s 4x400m relay teams continental powerhouses and increasingly global contenders.
Women’s Sprints
On the women’s side, the 100m nominations include young sprinters Nithya Gandhe and Abinaya Rajarajan, joined by experienced names like Sneha S S and the emerging Angel Silvia. In the 200m, multi-event talents like Unnathi Aiyappa and Nithya Ramraj who also excels in hurdles underline India’s versatile talent pool.
The women’s 400m is led by names that have carried Indian relay hopes internationally: Asian medallist Aishwarya Mishra, the consistent Rupal Chaudhary, and the promising Devyaniba Zala. Together, these athletes have repeatedly posted sub-52s and sub-53s times, helping India stay competitive in Asian and World relay circuits.
Middle- and Long-Distance: New Faces, New Hopes
Middle-distance running in India has seen a quiet resurgence, and the nominations reflect that.
In the women’s 800m, Asian finalist KM Chanda leads the field, supported by strong national performers like Pooja, Amandeep Kaur, and Nidhi Singh. Chanda’s consistency and finishing kick have made her one of India’s most reliable middle-distance runners.
The men’s 800m features a competitive lineup: Mohammed Afsal, Krishan Kumar, and Pradeep Senthilkumar each with times hovering near or under 1:47. For context, this level was rarely seen among multiple Indian athletes a decade ago.
In the men’s 5000m, experienced names like Gulveer Singh, Abhishek Pal, and the in-form Kiran Matre who clocked a PB earlier this year highlight the rising standards in Indian distance running. Their aim will be to chase personal bests and valuable ranking points at home.
Star Power in Field Events
India’s biggest international stars emerge strongly in the field event nominations.
Men’s Long Jump and Triple Jump
The men’s long jump features World Championship finalist Murali Sreeshankar, consistent 8m-plus jumper Jeswin Aldrin, and experienced campaigner Muhammed Anees Yahya. This trio has led India into a historic era where 8m jumps are expected, not exceptional.
In triple jump, Asian Games medalist Praveen Chithravel, along with Abdulla Aboobacker and Selva Prabhu T, make up a formidable lineup. All three have crossed or approached the 17m mark, bringing India close to medals even at global level.
Men’s Javelin Throw
The men’s javelin nominations read like a dream: Kishore Kumar Jena (World silver medallist), Sahil Silwal, Rohit Yadav, Vikrant Malik, and Vikash Sharma. With the global standard rising above 85m, this domestic field reflects India’s deep javelin culture sparked by Neeraj Chopra.
Women’s Field Events
The women’s long jump features national record holder Shaili Singh, Asian Games medallist Ancy Sojan, and rising talent Moumita Mondal showing a new generation ready to challenge at Asian and world levels.
In women’s javelin, India’s record-holder and world finalist Annu Rani leads the nominations, joined by Shilpa Rani and upcoming thrower Uma Choudhary, who are gradually pushing beyond the 58–60m barrier.
Hurdles & Versatility
The women’s 100m hurdles sees seasoned names like Moumita Mondal and Nithya Ramraj, who’ve represented India at continental championship
Interestingly, athletes like Moumita Mondal appear in both sprints and hurdles lists underlining how Indian athletes are now competing across multiple events to gain exposure and experience.
Why This Meet Matters
Bringing a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event to Bhubaneswar is about more than medals:
It’s about giving athletes World Ranking points at home
Testing domestic talent against international standards
Preparing them for Asian Games, World Championships & Olympics
Showcasing India’s capacity to host high-level global meets
For fans, it means seeing stars like Sreeshankar, Jeswin, Shaili Singh, and Annu Rani live on home soil, while upcoming names get the stage to announce themselves.
A Step Forward for Indian Athletics
The AFI’s nomination of 134 athletes across 16 events isn’t just a list it’s proof of India’s growing depth across disciplines. From sprints to throws, men to women, experienced names to fresh faces, the Bhubaneswar meet offers a glimpse of what Indian athletics can become.
With home support, world-class facilities, and ranking points on the line, this Continental Tour Bronze could be the springboard for personal bests, national records, and, ultimately, new international stars.
For Indian athletics, it marks the start of a bigger journey: not just competing in global meets abroad, but hosting them at home and making an impact.
