Bhubaneswar

India's leading track and field athletes will compete for coveted places in the country's Asian Games squad when the National Inter-State Athletics Championships begin at the Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday.

The five-day championship has been designated by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) as the sole selection trial for the Asian Games to be held in Japan later this year, making it one of the most significant domestic athletics events of the season.

Among the prominent athletes in action will be long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, sprint sensation Animesh Kujur, quarter-miler Vishal TK, shot put star Tajinderpal Singh Toor and steeplechase specialist Parul Chaudhary. Former Asian Games champion javelin thrower Annu Rani and promising high jumper Pooja Singh are also expected to draw attention.

The championships return to Bhubaneswar after a gap of three years and are expected to witness intense competition across disciplines as athletes attempt to achieve the qualifying standards required for Asian Games selection.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been exempted from participation as he continues his international season and focuses on maintaining peak fitness. Another leading javelin thrower, Sachin Yadav, is also absent, reportedly due to injury.

Several other notable names will miss the championships. National 100m record holder Gurindervir Singh has opted out to focus on preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, while Commonwealth Games medallist Avinash Sable continues his recovery following ACL surgery.

In Gurindervir's absence, the race for the men's 100m title is expected to feature athletes such as Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar and Lalu Prasad Bhoi. Kujur will also compete in the men's 200m event, where he holds the national record.

Women's 100m hurdles national record holder Jyothi Yarraji will make her season debut after recovering from ACL surgery. She will aim to achieve the Asian Games qualifying mark of 13.34 seconds.

Former Asian Games medallist Hima Das and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar are among the other high-profile absentees from the championships.

The men's long jump competition is expected to be one of the highlights of the meet. While Jeswin Aldrin continues to hold the national record of 8.42m, Murali Sreeshankar enters the championships in impressive form after recording multiple jumps beyond the eight-metre mark this season, including a gold-medal-winning effort at the Federation Cup.

Young talents Shahnavaz Khan, David P Solomon and Lokesh Sathyanathan have also crossed the eight-metre mark this season, setting up a highly competitive contest.

National record holder Vishal TK leads a strong field in the men's 400m event, while the women's one-lap race is also expected to feature a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talent.

Distance runner Gulveer Singh, who recently set national records, will compete only in the men's 5000m event, while Parul Chaudhary has entered both the 3000m steeplechase and 1500m races.

Another athlete making a return is Harmilan Bains, who won silver medals in both the 800m and 1500m events at the 2022 Asian Games. After taking time away from athletics in 2025, she is seeking another opportunity to represent India at the continental level.

Mandatory SRY Gene Test for Female Athletes

The championships will also mark the continued implementation of the AFI's policy requiring female athletes to undergo SRY Gene testing.

All female participants have been instructed to carry their original passports for verification purposes. The test, first introduced during the Federation Cup in Ranchi last month, is used to determine the presence or absence of the SRY gene, which plays a key role in male sex determination during fetal development.

According to the AFI, beginning next year, athletes competing in women's events at federation-recognised competitions will be required to complete the test through laboratories accredited by the federation.

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With Asian Games qualification on the line and several of India's top athletes competing, the championships are expected to provide a clear indication of the country's medal prospects for the continental showpiece later this year.