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Paris Olympians Clash in Historic 21km Race Walk at Indian Open in Chandigarh

The 13th Indian Open Race Walk Competition in Chandigarh introduces the World Athletics-sanctioned 21km and 42km events for the first time in India. The men's 21km half-marathon is the main attraction, featuring a showdown between four Paris Olympians and the dominant Servin Sebastain. The event also boasts strong fields in the men's and women's full marathon walks, with Olympians like Sandeep Kumar and Priyanka Goswami competing. The two-day competition at Sukhna Lake includes various distances and features international race walk judges.

Key Points: Indian Open Race Walk: Olympians Compete in New 21km & 42km Events

  • New 21km & 42km events debut in India
  • Four Paris Olympians in men's 21km showdown
  • Foreign athlete & judges add international flavour
  • Competition held at scenic Sukhna Lake
3 min read

Men's 21km will be main attraction during Indian Open Race Walk Competition

Watch Akshdeep Singh, Suraj Panwar & other Paris Olympians battle in the new 21km race walk at the Indian Open in Chandigarh. Full schedule inside.

"Preparation has been on track. I'm healthy and expect good performance on Sunday - Servin Sebastain"

Chandigarh, Feb 20

Competitors at the 13th edition of the Indian Open Race Walk Competition in Chandigarh will race over two newly-introduced events -- the 21km and 42km in senior men and women -- for the first time this season. The two-day domestic race walk competition will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday at the picturesque Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.

"The World Athletics---global governing body in track and field--had introduced half-marathon walk and full marathon walk events last year," chief national athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair said. "It is for the first time that Indian athletes will compete in the newly introduced events," he said.

Till the 2025 season, the standard distance in senior men and women was 20km and 35km in all competitions sanctioned by World Athletics.

The main attraction during the two-day extravaganza will be the men's half-marathon walk (21km). Four Paris Olympians --Akshdeep Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht, Suraj Panwar, and Vikash Singh -- will be seen in action on Sunday.

All four will be battling with Servin Sebastain, who had dominated the 2025 season and represented India at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships in Japan. Servin is all set to compete in the 21km event. "Preparation has been on track. I'm healthy and expect good performance on Sunday," Servin said.

Germany's promising race walker, Frederick Weigel, is the lone foreign athlete in the men's 21km event.

The field is equally impressive in the men's full marathon walk (42km). Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist (10km walk), Sandeep Kumar, is prominent among 31 athletes registered for the competition.

Former World U20 medallist, Amit, and Ram Baboo will also test their endurance over a full marathon walk event in Chandigarh.

In the women's full marathon walk, Olympian Priyanka Goswami will battle with Payal (Uttarakhand) and Manju (Punjab) for supremacy. Only nine athletes have entered for the women's full marathon walk.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has also invited three foreign race walk judges, including one from Malaysia, to oversee the two-day competition. Along with foreign officials, Indian judges will also coordinate the smooth conduct of the competition.

Apart from full marathon walk and half marathon walk, competition will also be held in senior men's and women's 10km. The distance for U20 will be 5km.

The competition on Saturday and Sunday will commence at 7 am.

Saturday and the schedule will include Full marathon walk (men and women); 10km race walk (men and women);

Sunday: Half-marathon walk (men and women), 5km race walk (U20 men and women).

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Sukhna Lake is such a beautiful venue for this competition. Early morning race walks by the lake must be a wonderful sight. Hope the weather stays pleasant for the athletes. Good luck to all participants!
R
Rohit P
The battle between Servin Sebastian and the four Olympians in the men's 21km is going to be the highlight. Servin dominated last season, so it's a real clash of the titans. Can't wait for Sunday!
S
Sarah B
It's impressive that they've invited foreign judges. This adds international credibility to the event and ensures fair judging. A good step by AFI for the development of the sport.
M
Meera T
While it's great to have new events, I hope the federation is also focusing on grassroots development. We need more athletes in the women's 42km—only nine entries is quite low. More promotion is needed at the state level.
V
Vikram M
All the best to Sandeep Kumar in the 42km! A Commonwealth Games medallist stepping up to the marathon distance shows real grit. Hope he and the others have trained well for the Chandigarh heat.
D
David E
Interesting to see a German athlete, Frederick Weigel, competing.

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