The 2025 SAFF Senior Athletics Championships concluded in Ranchi with an exhilarating display of regional athletic excellence, marked by record-breaking performances, national milestones, and a fierce India–Sri Lanka rivalry that set the tone for three unforgettable days of competition.
In the end, India emerged overall champions, topping the medal tally with 20 gold, 20 silver, and 18 bronze medals (total 58), while hosts Sri Lanka finished second with 16 gold, 14 silver, and 10 bronze (total 40). Nepal (6 medals), Bangladesh (3), and Maldives (1) rounded off the standings.
This year’s edition stood out as one of the most competitive in SAFF history featuring over 25 new meet records (MR) and multiple national records (NR) cementing South Asia’s growing depth in athletics.
Day 1: Records Fall in 100m, 5000m, and Shot Put
The championships opened with a flurry of speed and power. In the Men’s 100m, Sri Lanka’s Y. Chamod stormed to gold in 10.30s (MR), edging out India’s Pranav Gurav (10.32s) and Harsh Raut (10.42s). It was the fastest 100m race in SAFF history, with all three medallists dipping below 10.45s. The women’s 100m produced a similar spectacle as Sri Lanka’s M. Yamick clocked 11.53s (MR) to take gold, followed by compatriot A.D. Silva (11.72s) and India’s Sudensha S (11.78s).
India dominated the longer distances, led by Sanjana Singh, who smashed records in the women’s 5000m winning gold in 15:38.70 (MR, PB, NU20R), with Seema (15:40.55, MR) ensuring an Indian 1–2. Nepal’s Santoshi Shreshtha took bronze with a personal best 16:36.61, marking the nation’s first medal of the competition.
In the men’s 5000m, India’s Prince Kumar led from the gun to take gold in 14:22.17s, followed closely by Sri Lanka’s V. Vakshan (14:23.21s) and Nepal’s Mukesh Bahadur (14:25.54s) all three finishing within a three-second window. India’s throwers began strongly too. Samardeep Gill dominated the men’s shot put with a meet record of 19.59m, ahead of teammate Ravi Kumar (17.95m). In the women’s event, Yogita (15.85m) and Shiksha (15.83m) delivered another Indian 1–2.
The mixed 4x400m relay capped the day, with India’s quartet winning in 3:20.13, narrowly ahead of Sri Lanka (3:20.85).
Day 2 saw athletes blend precision with endurance as meet records tumbled across hurdles, relays, and throws.
India’s Manav R was in scintillating form in the 110m hurdles, claiming gold in 13.78s (PB, MR) ahead of Sri Lanka’s Roshan R (13.90s) and India’s Krishik M (14.01s). The women’s 100m hurdles was another Indian sweep, led by Nandhini K (13.56s, MR) and Moumita Mondal (13.81s), as Sri Lanka’s Lakshika (13.98s) rounded out the podium. In the 400m finals, Sri Lanka’s H.K. Kalinga struck gold in 46.21s, edging Mohd. Ashfaq (IND) who clocked a personal best of 46.56s. For India, the women’s event brought joy as Neeru Pathak (53.15s) and Olimba Steffi (54.13s) produced a 1–2 finish.
The 1500m finals were again all about Indian endurance. Arjun Waskale (3:54.58) won the men’s race, while Sanjana Singh (4:25.36) took her second gold of the meet in the women’s event. Field events continued to reward India’s consistency. Kirpal Singh (56.22m) and Nirbhay Singh (56.00m) finished 1–2 in the men’s discus throw, while Seema (55.14m) and Nidhi (52.18m) mirrored the result in the women’s category.
The men’s high jump brought high drama as Sri Lanka’s S.A.T. Dasun cleared 2.17m (MR) to win gold, while India’s Rohit (2.15m =MR) and Aadarsh Ram (2.11m) took silver and bronze. The relays concluded the day in breathtaking fashion. Sri Lanka’s men’s 4x100m team shattered the meet record with 39.99s, just ahead of India (40.65s), while their women’s 4x100m quartet also set a record at 44.70s, narrowly beating India (44.93s).
A Finale of Fire: Mori, Lekamge, and Yamick Light Up Ranchi
The final day was the grandest of them all, witnessing multiple records and a historic duel in the 400m hurdles.
India’s Ruchit Mori delivered one of the standout performances of the meet, winning the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.10s (MR) the fastest time ever recorded at a South Asian Championship. Sri Lanka’s A. Liyanage (50.29s) pushed him to the limit, with both breaking the previous record. India’s Karna Bag took bronze (51.05s). The women’s 400m hurdles was another thriller, as Sri Lanka’s Dasuni Kaushalya (58.66s, PB, MR) edged teammate L.G.A. Sathsarini (59.24s, PB, MR), while India’s Olimba Steffi (1:00.21s) claimed her second bronze of the meet.
In the 200m, India and Sri Lanka split honors Sandeep Singh (21.23s) won the men’s race, while Yamick completed her sprint double in the women’s event with 23.58s (PB, MR). India’s Sakshi Chavan (23.91s) and Neeru Pathak (24.06s) added silver and bronze.
The javelin throw saw one of the most anticipated showdowns of the meet. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage stunned the field with an 84.29m (MR) effort, the best throw in South Asian history, while teammate Sumedha Ranasinghe (81.62m) made it a one-two finish. India’s Uttam Patil (76.30m) took bronze. In the women’s event, Dilhani Lekamge (LKA) claimed gold with a mammoth 60.14m (MR) throw, while Indians Karishma S (55.06m) and Deepika (54.87m) took silver and bronze.
India’s Amandeep Kaur added another gold in the women’s 800m (2:04.66s), while Sankeertana T (2:07.09s) finished third. In the men’s 800m, Sri Lanka’s Sandaruwan K (1:51.96s) took gold, followed by Som Bahadur (NEP) one of Nepal’s two silvers and Mogali V (IND) in bronze.
Long jump golds went to Mohd. Sazid (IND, 7.68m) and Madushani Herath (LKA, 6.23m), while India’s Reet Rathor (1.76m) topped the women’s high jump, narrowly beating Ranidi Gamage (1.74m).
In the 10,000m, India’s Abhishek Pal (30:29.46) held off Nepal’s Rajan Rokaya (30:39.15) for gold. The women’s 10,000m was a record-breaking race as Sri Lanka’s Rasara Wijesuriya (34:39.95, MR) took gold ahead of India’s Ravina Gayakwad (34:45.47, PB, MR), with Nepal’s Santoshi Shreshtha (34:47.77, PB, MR) finishing third.
In throws, Damneet Singh (66.99m) and Ashish Jakhar (64.68m) ensured an Indian 1–2 in the hammer throw.
The relays provided a fitting finish Sri Lanka’s men’s 4x400m team took gold in 3:05.12 (MR), edging India (3:05.38), while India’s women’s 4x400m team stormed to gold in 3:34.70 (MR), beating Sri Lanka (3:35.71).
Final Medal Tally: SAFF Senior Athletics Championships 2025
| Country | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | Total |
| 🇮🇳 India | 20 | 20 | 18 | 58 |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 16 | 14 | 10 | 40 |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
India may have retained the overall crown, but Sri Lanka’s resurgence particularly in sprints, javelin, and relays was the defining story of this edition. Nepal, meanwhile, celebrated a historic set of silvers and bronzes, showing encouraging progress in endurance disciplines. The 2025 SAFF Championships were not just a competition they were a statement of evolution. The region’s athletes displayed world-class standards, breaking barriers and redefining possibilities.
As the curtain fell in Ranchi, South Asian athletics stood taller than ever, ready to take on the continental stage.
