The Senior National Fed Cup 2025 Athletics Championship is set to commence tomorrow, April 21, at the Maharaja’s College Ground in Kochi, Kerala.
This pivotal four-day event will feature 38 finals and serves as the primary selection trial for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, scheduled from May 27.
Athletes will vie not only for national titles but also to meet the stringent qualifying standards set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), which are based on the fourth-place marks from the 2023 Asian Championships.
Day 1: Key Finals and Athletes to Watch
The opening day will witness eight finals, starting at 6:10 AM with the men’s 10,000m race, followed by the women’s 10,000m at 6:50 AM . Notable athletes include:
- Men’s 10,000m: Sawan Barwal, Abhishek Pal, and Kiran Matre.
- Women’s 10,000m: Seema, Sanjivani, and Bushra.
- Women’s Pole Vault: Baranica, Vanshika, and Pavithra.
- Men’s 100m: Amlan Borgohain, Gurindervir Singh, Manikanta, and Lalu.
- Men’s Javelin Throw: Vikrant Malik, Sahil, Sachin, Rohit, and Kishore Jena.
- Men’s 1500m: Ajay Kumar Saroj.
- Women’s 1500m: Lili Das and Vineeta Gurjar.
These athletes aim to secure top-two finishes to qualify for the Asian Championships and meet the AFI’s qualifying standards .
Notable Absentees and Their Implications
The championship sees several prominent athletes missing, raising concerns about team composition for upcoming international events:
- Jyothika Sri Dandi, India’s fastest 400m relay runner in 2024, is absent due to injury recovery. She stated, “I recovered from injury & started training. Will open my season later,” and added, “Even if I had got the Fed Cup entry, I wouldn’t have competed.”
- Kiran Pahal, last year’s fastest Indian in the 400m, and Aishwarya Mishra, this season’s fastest, are also not participating .
- Tejas Shirse, national record holder in the 110m hurdles, is absent despite recent record-breaking performances in the 60m hurdles .
- Annu Rani, India’s leading javelin thrower, is missing from the women’s javelin event, possibly due to training commitments abroad.
- Rajesh Ramesh and Mohd Ajmal, top 400m runners in 2024, are not competing, potentially due to injuries .
These absences could impact India’s preparations for the World Relays in May and the Asian Championships.
Venue Shift and Organizational Challenges
Originally slated to be held in Panchkula, Haryana, the Fed Cup was relocated to Kochi after Haryana withdrew from hosting duties, leaving athletes and organizers scrambling to adjust . Despite these challenges, the AFI has ensured that the event proceeds smoothly, maintaining its status as a critical qualifier for international competitions.
Looking Ahead
As the Federation Cup unfolds, athletes will strive to meet the AFI’s rigorous qualifying standards, aiming for selection to the Asian Championships. The performances over the next four days will be pivotal in shaping India’s athletics contingent for upcoming international events.
Stay tuned for daily updates and in-depth analyses as the championship progresses.
