"Odisha government doing a lot": World Athletics Vice President Adille J Sumariwalla
Bhubaneswar, June 26
World Athletics Vice President Adille J Sumariwalla praised the Odisha government for its contribution to the development of athletics in India, saying that improved support systems are directly reflected in athletes' performances and qualification standards.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, Sumariwalla said targeted support has helped Indian athletes consistently meet and exceed qualification benchmarks for major international events.
"The Odisha government is doing a lot, and you can look at the performance. When we provide good support, the athletes perform well. They are qualifying for every event, and it's not just about meeting the minimum Asian Games qualification standard; athletes are achieving third or fourth-place finishes that meet the criteria," he said.
Highlighting the growing depth in Indian athletics, he added that multiple athletes are now qualifying across events, indicating a significant improvement in overall standards.
"You see 10 or 11 athletes qualifying across events; it shows how much the standard has improved," Sumariwalla said. "We are always hopeful about the Asian Games. I can certainly say that we will perform better than the last time," he added.
Gold medallist in women's shot put, Manpreet Kaur has set her sights on breaching the 18-metre mark in upcoming competitions after delivering a strong performance at the ongoing athletics season.
"The qualifying mark was 16.35, and I've just thrown 17.75. My goal here is to hit the 18-plus mark in upcoming competitions. I am currently training at NIS Patiala and receiving excellent coaching there, so the aim is to keep improving... I've been working hard for quite some time with the specific goal of winning a medal," she said.
Women's 200m gold medallist Harita Bhadra said she is now focused on winning a medal at the Asian level after clocking a new personal best at the ongoing athletics season.
"My previous personal best was 23.9 seconds, and today I clocked 23.14 seconds... Naturally, the next target, now that I've qualified, is an Asian medal, and training for that is already underway. I approached this competition with the mindset that I had already qualified, so the preparation for the Asian event was already in progress," she said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is truly wonderful to see. The dedication of athletes like Manpreet Kaur and Harita Bhadra, combined with state support, is creating a winning formula. India is finally building a system where talent can thrive. The Asian Games are going to be exciting!
Good to see recognition for Odisha, but let's not ignore the efforts of other states like Kerala, Haryana, and Punjab who have been producing athletes for decades. The credit should be shared. Also, the real test will be in sustained performance at Olympics, not just Asian Games. Still, progress is progress. 🤔
Hearing such positive news about Indian athletics is heartening! 😊 The way Harita Bhadra improved from 23.9s to 23.14s shows how dedicated coaching and facilities can transform potential into performance. Odisha is doing a commendable job, and I hope this inspires more investment in sports across India. Rooting for all our athletes! 🇮🇳
It's refreshing to see state governments taking sports seriously. The comments about multiple athletes qualifying across events is a sign of systemic improvement. Manpreet Kaur chasing 18m and Harita Bhadra targeting Asian medals – this is the kind of ambition that will take Indian athletics to the next level. Well done, Odisha!
While the praise for Odisha is warranted, I wish the article mentioned the role of central government schemes like Khelo India that also contribute. But yes, seeing athletes from different states excelling is wonderful. Manpreet Kaur's focus on
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