As the outdoor athletics season gathers pace in Europe, Indian athletes are set to feature in three significant meets on July 5, 2025 the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece, the Míting Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona in Spain, and the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poland.
These World Athletics Continental Tour events are vital stepping stones for several Indian athletes looking to qualify for upcoming major championships, including the Tokyo World Championships later this year.
Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting Greece (Category B)
A strong contingent of Indian sprinters, mostly from the Reliance Foundation Athletics Program, will compete in the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece, a WACT Silver level event. The event is known for its fast track and favorable weather, making it a popular stop for sprinters chasing qualifying times and rankings.
In the men’s 100m, four Indians are entered Lalu Bhoi, MJ Dondapathi, Animesh Kujur, and Manikanta Hoblidhar. All four are part of India’s next generation of sprinters, steadily clocking sub-10.50 times on the domestic circuit and now looking to make an impact on the European circuit.
Both Animesh Kujur and Manikanta Hoblidhar will double up, taking part in the 200m as well. Kujur, who recently clocked 20.96 seconds at a meet in Belgium, has been in good form, while Manikanta, known for his explosive starts, will aim to push his PB closer to the 21-second mark.
In the 100m hurdles, Moumita Mondal is the sole Indian entry. The Bengal hurdler has shown consistent improvement this season and will be hoping to dip below 13.50s a mark that could bring her into the radar for global competition consideration.
A key highlight of the Dromia meet will be the participation of the Reliance (India) 4x100m men’s relay team, likely composed of the same athletes from the individual sprints Lalu, Dondapathi, Animesh, and Manikanta. Races like these are crucial opportunities to improve the team’s ranking and timing.
Czesław Cybulski Memorial Poland (Category B)
In Poland, Mohammed Afsal P, India’s national record holder in the men’s 800m, is set to line up at the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poznań. This WACT Silver level meet boasts a competitive field, with several runners boasting personal bests in the 1:44 range precisely the kind of high-pressure race Afsal needs as he eyes qualification for the Tokyo World Championships.
Afsal, who opened his European campaign earlier this week with a 1:47.01 run in Tábor, Czechia, will be looking to drop his time significantly. The qualifying standard for the World Championships is 1:44.70, and the Polish race could be an ideal setting for the Kerala-born athlete to get close to that mark or secure crucial ranking points.
This will be one of Afsal’s most critical races of the season, not only to build confidence but to show that his national record (1:45.98) isn’t just history but a benchmark he’s ready to lower.
Míting Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona Spain (Category D)
In Barcelona, another group of Indian athletes will compete in the WACT Challenger level meet, giving them valuable international exposure and a chance to improve personal bests in a more tactical, competitive field.
In the men’s 100m, both Lalu Bhoi and DM Jayaram will be back in action, doubling up after their appearances in Dromia. Racing in two meets in quick succession is a challenge, but it’s also a common strategy in European tours to accumulate experience and rankings.
India’s interest extends to the field events in Barcelona, with Praveen Chithravel and Mohamed Muhassin entered in the men’s long jump. While Chithravel is better known for his exploits in the triple jump, including a national record earlier this year, his versatility sees him testing his form in the long jump as well. Muhassin, a consistent 7.70m+ jumper, will be aiming to breach the 8.00m barrier.
In the women’s triple jump, Sandra Babu and Anusha Mallala will represent India. Sandra recently won gold at the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru with a leap close to 13.60m, and she’ll be targeting another solid jump here to improve her global rankings. Anusha, too, has had a promising domestic season and will hope to translate that form onto the European stage.
A Summer of Opportunity for Indian Athletics
With the Paris 2025 World Athletics Championships and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in the long-term sights, these meets in Greece, Poland, and Spain offer a crucial window for Indian athletes to showcase their readiness on the global circuit.
For the Reliance Foundation athletes, particularly the sprinters and relay team, it’s a moment to test themselves against seasoned European competitors and push toward global qualification marks. For Afsal, it’s potentially a make-or-break meet to keep his dream of qualifying for Tokyo alive. And for the jumpers and hurdlers, it’s about consistent improvement and gathering experience.
As Indian athletics continues its steady climb, this European campaign represents not just a set of competitions, but the building blocks of a bigger international ambition. The performances in these meets could well shape the selection and confidence of Indian athletes in what’s becoming an increasingly packed global calendar.
