At a venue steeped in history and bathed in blistering heat, the Maharaja’s College Stadium in Kochi witnessed an unforgettable moment—23-year-old Pranav Pramod from Maharashtra stormed to gold in the men’s 100m final at the 28th Federation Cup.
In a race dominated by big names and backed athletes, it was the unheralded sprinter, self-funded and team-less, who upstaged India’s finest to etch his name in national athletics folklore.
Running in lane 4, Pranav clocked a sensational personal best of 10.27 seconds to clinch the biggest victory of his fledgling career, defeating a star-studded lineup including:
- Gurindervir Singh – the national record holder (10.18s)
- Manikanta Hoblidhar – former NR holder
- Amlan Borgohain – national 200m record holder
- Animesh Kujur – reigning National Games champion
Animesh pushed hard to finish second in 10.32s, but the day belonged to the young man from Maharashtra who had quietly advanced through the rounds, showing no signs of nerves even when lined up against decorated peers.
Against All Odds
What makes Pranav’s story particularly compelling isn’t just the win—it’s the context. While most of his competitors were nurtured under elite support systems like Odisha Reliance Foundation or state-sponsored programs, Pranav turned up to Kochi with no coach, no physiotherapist, and no contingent.
“It was just me, my spikes, and belief,” he said after the race, overwhelmed with emotion. “I knew the field was tough, but I also knew what I had trained for. I had nothing to lose.”
That raw hunger made the difference. On a slightly negative wind of -1.5 m/s, Pranav’s 10.27s wasn’t just fast—it was brave. He didn’t just win a race; he broke barriers, proving that infrastructure is critical, but determination can still write fairy tales.
The Battle Before the Glory
The men’s 100m was arguably the marquee event of the Fed Cup, and the build-up was electric. In the semifinals, Animesh Kujur shocked Gurindervir Singh, clocking 10.30s to beat the NR holder’s 10.33s.
In the other semi final, Manikanta Hoblidhar showed a glimpse of his form with a 10.25s run, signaling he was ready to reclaim past glory.
Amlan Borgohain, better known for the 200m, was also in the mix with 10.36s. It set up a final where any of six men could have realistically walked away with the title. But it was Pranav who had the last word.
Women’s 100m: Nithya’s Rise Continues
In the women’s 100m, it was Nithya Gandhe who continued her excellent 2025 season. After silver at the National Games (11.79s) and a gold with a PB of 11.41s at IGP 1, she delivered when it mattered most—claiming gold with 11.50s in Kochi.
Abinaya Rajarajan clocked 11.54s for silver, registering another personal best, while Sneha finished third at 11.62s. Though the headwind of -1.5m/s slowed times down, the quality of the race was top-notch.
Nithya’s consistency is turning heads as India looks to build a credible 4x100m women’s relay unit ahead of the Asian Games 2026.
Sachin Yadav’s Comeback of Steel
In the field events, men’s javelin throw saw a powerful comeback story unfold. Sachin Yadav, who began 2025 with an 84.39m throw before succumbing to an ankle injury, returned to peak form with a golden throw of 83.86m to seal victory.
His series progression—75.79m, 79.69m, and 83.86m—showed growing confidence and rhythm. What makes it even more impressive is his modest 70.62m mark at the Indian Open just weeks ago, where he was clearly still nursing the injury.
To rebound with three 80m-plus throws, including a near-season best, speaks volumes about his resilience. With the Asian Championships approaching, India may once again have two world-class javelin throwers to bank on.
Women’s 10,000m: Sanjivani’s Season of Gold
Distance queen Sanjivani Jadhav added another gold to her resume, winning the 10,000m in 33:44.43. Though she fell short of the Asian Athletics Championship qualifying mark of 33:24.79, her consistency this season has been commendable.
She had already clinched gold at the National Games and now aims to qualify in the 5000m, where she recently won silver at IGP 1 (15:59.12) and gold at the Indian Open (16:44.26).
Men’s 10,000m: Sawan’s Statement Run
Sawan Barwal took control of the men’s 10,000m from the gun, clocking an impressive 28:57.13 to win gold and breach the AFI qualification mark for the Asian Championships. Abhishek Pal also dipped under 29 minutes to take silver.
Sawan has been on a steady rise and his sub-29 time here follows his stellar performance at the National Games. With more tactical racing exposure, he could be a medal contender in continental competition.
Youth Takes Over in the 400m
The men’s 400m final is shaping up to be a generational shift. With legends like Muhammed Anas sitting out the semifinals, young guns like TK Vishal are stepping up.
The Tamil Nadu athlete clocked a personal best of 46.64s in the heats (improving from 46.77s in 2024), showing that India’s next 4x400m squad is beginning to take shape.
In the women’s category, Vithya Ramraj (52.84s), Rupal Chaudhary (52.65s), and Sneha K (53.36s) advanced as the top contenders, setting up a high-stakes final.
All three have previous international experience and will be eyeing qualification marks and relay berths for Paris and beyond.
Women’s 1500m: Lili Das Shines
Lili Das stormed to gold in the women’s 1500m with a new personal best of 4:10.88. It was a tactically sound race, with Pooja from Haryana, another top name, finishing second in 4:12.56. Pooja still holds the better PB (4:09.52) but Lili’s form this season is trending in the right direction.
The 28th Federation Cup is delivering thrilling stories across track and field. From Pranav’s fairy-tale sprint victory to Sachin Yadav’s brave comeback and Nithya Gandhe’s consistent rise, Indian athletics is enjoying a wave of individual brilliance fueled by grit and ambition.
As India builds toward the Asian Championships and Asian Games in 2026, the emergence of fearless talents—many from outside the traditional elite training systems—offers renewed hope. The track is speaking, and it’s loud and clear: India’s next generation is not here to participate. They’re here to win.
