Indian Athletes Gear Up for European Tests: Spotlight on Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern and PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs
With the European athletics circuit in full swing, several Indian athletes are set to test themselves against strong international fields this week. The action begins on July 16 at the prestigious Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern 2025 meet in Switzerland, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver (🥈) event, where a sizeable Indian contingent is ready to compete across sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws.
A Look at the Indian Line-up in Luzern
The men’s sprints will see a packed Indian presence. In the 200 metres, the trio of Amlan Borgohain, Animesh Kujur, and Manikanta Hoblidhar are scheduled to race. All three have been among India’s fastest over the distance this season, and Luzern offers them a chance to test their form against Europe’s elite.
In the 100 metres, the field broadens to include Gurindervir Singh, Lalu Bhoi, and MJ Dondapathi, alongside Amlan, Animesh, and Manikanta. With six Indian sprinters on the start list, it underlines the growing depth in men’s sprinting, even if consistent sub-10.20 performances remain a target.
The hurdles event features Pragyan Sahu in the men’s 110m hurdles, hoping to sharpen his technique and race execution against strong European competition.
On the field, India’s representation continues. In the men’s javelin throw, Sahil Silwal will aim to build on domestic success and challenge the 80m barrier in a high-quality field. In the women’s javelin throw, Karishma Sanil will look to gain international experience and improve her seasonal best.
The women’s long jump sees a promising duo in action: Moumita Mandal and Shaili Singh. Shaili, who has already crossed the 6.60m mark this season, will look to edge closer to the elite 6.80m territory, while Moumita will aim to consolidate her recent progress on the European circuit.
For many of these athletes, Luzern serves not only as a test against strong fields but also as preparation for bigger challenges later in the season, including the Asian Championships and World Championships qualifications.
Spotlight Shifts to Germany: PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs Meet
Just two days later, on July 18, attention moves to Germany for the PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger event. The highlight from an Indian perspective will be the men’s 100m event, featuring Manikanta Hoblidhar and Gurindervir Singh both former Indian national record holders.
Manikanta and Gurindervir bring experience and proven national pedigree to the track. Scheduled at 10:40 pm IST, the race presents a valuable opportunity for both sprinters to clock competitive timings against an international field.
With consistent performances in the mid-10.20s and aspirations of breaking the long-standing Indian national record of 10.26 seconds, a strong outing here could bolster confidence heading into the crucial second half of the season.
Why These Meets Matter
Participation in meets like Luzern and PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs isn’t just about medals. For Indian athletes, racing and competing in Europe offers:
- Exposure to world-class competition
- Technical learning and experience from varied field conditions
- World Athletics ranking points that help secure entries into bigger meets
- Benchmarking performances against continental and global standards
The depth of Indian participation, especially in the sprints and field events, signals the growing ambition of the athletics community back home. The presence of both emerging talents and experienced names shows a healthy pipeline and an intent to regularly compete on international stages.
Looking Ahead
As the Indian athletics season gains momentum, performances from Luzern and Germany will be closely watched by fans, coaches, and selectors alike. With the World Championships qualification windows, and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle all in view, every meet counts.
From sprinters like Amlan, Animesh, Manikanta, Gurindervir, Lalu Bhoi, and MJ Dondapathi, to field event athletes like Sahil Silwal, Karishma Sanil, Moumita Mandal, and Shaili Singh, and hurdlers like Pragyan Sahu all will be hoping to translate training effort into on-track and on-field performances.
Here’s wishing the entire Indian contingent the very best in Switzerland and Germany as they chase new personal bests, season’s bests, and invaluable international experience on the European circuit.
