India is poised to make history on August 10, 2025, as Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar hosts its first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet.
Among the headline events of the day, the Men’s and Women’s 100m sprints promise to deliver an electric atmosphere and fierce competition, featuring a rich blend of domestic standouts, promising youth, and formidable international challengers.
For many athletes, this isn’t just about winning medals it’s about gaining crucial World Ranking points, sharpening form ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and elevating their status on the global sprinting stage.
Men’s 100m: A Tight Field Ready to Light Up Kalinga
A High-Stakes Dash With Regional Flavor
The men’s 100m lineup is rich in depth and diversity, with sprinters representing nations like Great Britain, Iraq, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and India. With eight athletes owning personal bests under 10.45s and several in their career-best form, the event is expected to be one of the most closely contested at the Bhubaneswar meet.
Leading the field is Saif Raad Abdel Wahed of Iraq, the 2025 Doha West Asian Grand Prix winner, who boasts a PB of 10.22s, also his season’s best. His explosive start and consistency this season make him a strong podium favourite. Also in sharp form is Muhammad Azeem Fahmi of Malaysia, a 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist, who clocked 10.56s this season, well short of his PB of 10.09s (2022). If he hits rhythm, he could dominate the field.
Britain’s Daniel Oforiah brings European pedigree with a best of 10.36s, but his SB of 10.50s suggests he might need to dig deep to challenge the frontrunners.
India’s charge is led by Animesh Kujur, the 2025 National Games Champion, whose 10.18s PB, set just last month, is the fastest among Indians and a signal of his intent to break the national record of 10.18s set by himself on July 5 in Varì, Greece.
Right behind him are Indian sprinters Harsh Santosh Raut (PB/SB 10.38s), Lalu Prasad Bhoi (10.45s), Aadesh Kumar Yadav (10.8s hand-timed), and Tamilarasu S (10.42s), all showing strong domestic form. For Harsh and Lalu, this is a golden opportunity to break into the sub-10.30s bracket in a high-quality field.
Nepal’s Aadesh Kumar Yadav, just 19, is one of the youngest in the lineup and will gain crucial exposure after emerging from the 2024 Asian Juniors. His PB of 11.12s belies his hand-timed 10.80s, indicating potential beyond his official record.
Among the most intriguing names is Chamod M. Yodhasinghe of Sri Lanka (PB/SB 10.27s), a 2025 Asian Championship semi-finalist, and Khumo Motheo Kotsedi of South Africa (PB 10.58s), whose raw talent could see him cause a surprise if conditions are right.
The heat will also feature Timothy Tuna Tovetina from Papua New Guinea and a strong Filipino challenge via Lopena Anfernee (10.41s PB) and Tuna Timothy (10.45s PB), both part of Pacific Games medal-winning relay squads.
The Records in Sight
- World Record: 9.58s (Usain Bolt, 2009)
- Kalinga Stadium Record: 10.24s (Khairul Hafiz Jantan, 2017)
- Indian National Record: 10.18s (Animesh Kujur, 2025)
With Animesh Kujur in red-hot form, the Kalinga Stadium Record could realistically fall. His national record of 10.18s, set just a month ago, might even be under threat again if tailwind conditions and track temperatures align.
Women’s 100m: India vs Southeast Asia vs the Clock
A Deep Domestic Field with International Intrigue
The women’s 100m promises a high-powered clash with India’s top sprinters, seasoned Malaysian campaigners, and young South Asian talents competing for regional supremacy.
At the top of the form charts is Sneha S S, who clocked 11.42s this season just a shade outside her PB and leads the Indian rankings. The 2025 Asian relay silver medalist will look to cement her place among Asia’s best individual sprinters. Not far behind is Sudheeksha V, the 2025 World University Games participant, who has clocked 11.78s this season, followed by Angel Silvia M (11.67s) and Sakshi Chavan (11.81s). The race also features multiple Indian champions including Daneswari A T, Animesh Kujur’s training partner, who won the 2022 National U23 title.
Abinaya Rajarajan (PB 11.54s), and Srabani Nanda, a 2016 Olympian making a comeback, add serious experience to the mix. Srabani has a lifetime best of 11.36s and is running sub-11.80s again this season.
Sakshi Chavan : From Barefoot Beginnings to National Records
India’s prodigy Sakshi Chavan, just 20, continues to develop well with a PB of 11.78s, and her U20 background in the Asian circuit gives her confidence against senior names.
International Names to Watch
From Malaysia, the powerful Zaidatul Husna Zulkifli (PB 11.49s) brings top-level experience, having won a relay bronze at the 2023 Asian Games. Her 2025 SB is 11.65s, placing her among the favorites. Also flying the Malaysian flag is Nur Aishah Rofina Aling (SB 11.80s), who reached the semifinals at the 2025 Asian Championships. Valentina Meredova, the veteran from Turkmenistan, still holds her country’s national record of 11.56s, and despite her age (born 1984), she’s clocked 11.70s hand-timed this year, signaling impressive longevity.
From Nepal, Reshma Subedi, a former Asian Youth Championship finalist, arrives with a hand-timed 12.20s but will benefit from the international exposure.
Indian National Record Watch
- National Record: 11.17s (Dutee Chand, 2021, Patiala)
- The best SB this year is 11.42s by Sneha S S still 0.25s off the national mark but as seen before, big races under pressure often yield breakthroughs.
More than chasing records, Indian athletes will aim for consistency in the 11.30s-11.50s range, which will help with international rankings and relay selections for upcoming meets like the Asian Indoor Games and World Relays.
Continental Tour Context and Strategic Significance
As a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, Bhubaneswar offers Category C World Ranking points. These are critical for athletes who are just outside qualifying ranges for the World Championships, Asian Championships, or Olympic quotas.
For sprinters like Animesh Kujur, Sneha S S, and Zaidatul Husna, a win here could improve their Road to Tokyo 2025 standings. For the emerging names especially under-23 athletes like Harsh Raut, Pavana Nagaraj (from long jump), and Sakshi Chavan it’s a unique opportunity to gain ranking points without the cost of competing in Europe. In the relay context, several athletes here are likely to form the core of India’s 4x100m squads for future competitions. Their individual 100m performances will influence selections and help strategize baton exchanges based on flat speed.
Kalinga Stadium: Conditions and Historic Relevance
The 8-lane synthetic track and warm Odisha climate make Kalinga one of the fastest sprint surfaces in India. The stadium has already hosted the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships, National Opens, and multiple Indian Grand Prix legs, building a reputation for world-class standards. The stadium record for men’s 100m (10.24s) and women’s 100m (11.39s) were both set during the 2017 Asian meet. Given the quality of this year’s field and the high stakes, both marks are within reach.
The Men’s and Women’s 100m events at the Bhubaneswar Continental Tour Bronze meet will not just determine the fastest athlete of the night they’ll also tell us who’s ready to take the next step on the world stage. For Indian sprinting, a strong showing would reinforce the discipline’s growing depth, especially in men’s 100m where national records are falling. For Southeast Asian nations like Malaysia and Sri Lanka, it’s a chance to benchmark against one another on neutral ground. And for the fans, it’s a rare opportunity to watch top-tier sprint battles unfold in India under floodlights.
The race will last no more than 11 seconds. But for athletes chasing time, titles, and a place in history, it could define an entire season or career.
