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Over 1000 Junior Athletes Set for National U20 Athletics in Karnataka

Over 1000 athletes will compete in the National U20 Athletics Competition in Tumkur, Karnataka, starting Friday. The event serves as a qualifier for the Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong. Key sprinters include Parth Singh, Partik Maharana, and Bapi Hansda making a comeback. The competition features 79 athletes in the men's 100m and 37 in the women's 100m.

Key Points: 1000+ Athletes at National U20 Athletics in Karnataka

  • 1059 athletes, 709 male, to compete in Tumkur
  • Event serves as qualifier for Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong
  • Parth Singh and Partik Maharana to clash in 100m
  • Bapi Hansda returns from injury
  • Mohammed Ashfaq aims for national team spot
2 min read

Over 1000 athletes set to compete in National U20 Athletics Competition in Karnataka

1059 athletes compete in National U20 Athletics in Tumkur, Karnataka. Key event for Asian U20 Championships qualification.

"The Karnataka competition will be a good platform for Odisha's international 400m runner Bapi Hansda - Article"

Tumkur, April 23

Overall 1059 competitors, including 709 male track and field athletes, will be seen in action during the three-day National Junior Athletics Competition, starting Friday at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Tumkur, Karnataka.

The competition will also act as a qualifying event for next month's Asian U20 Athletics Championships to be held in Hong Kong.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has already announced the qualification standards for the Asian U20 meet. The three-day age group competition in Karnataka will see several promising junior athletes achieve their goal to wear the Indian jersey.

The first medal event on Friday will be 5,000m track races in both men's and women's sections.

The opening day will also witness Jharkhand's promising sprinter Parth Singh testing his prowess against his rivals, including Partik Maharana of Odisha. Jharkhand's sprinter had a good 2025 season and will be looking ahead on Friday to dominate the men's 100m dash.

The Karnataka competition will be a good platform for Odisha's international 400m runner Bapi Hansda, who is making a comeback after a long hiatus due to an injury sustained during the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand.

Kerala's rising quarter-miler Mohammed Ashfaq has also confirmed his entry. Ashfaq will also be looking forward to cementing his place in the national team for the Asian U20 Athletics meet in Hong Kong.

As many as 79 athletes are in the fray in the men's 100m. Going by the entries, 93 competitors will contest the top three places in the men's 200m. The quarter-mile will see 89 male athletes vying for top honours.

The opening day will also decide the fastest female athlete. The women's 100m dash has attracted 37 entries.

Medals will also be decided in women's pole vault and discus throw on day one.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Impressive numbers - over a thousand athletes! I'm particularly excited to see Bapi Hansda make a comeback after that injury. The 400m is always a thrilling event. Good luck to all competitors from across the country.
P
Pooja D
Wonderful to see women's events getting good participation too - 37 entries in 100m dash! But why are there fewer women overall? Need to encourage more girls in sports from school level itself. Still, very proud of our young athletes. 💪
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Arjun K
This is exactly what Indian athletics needs - strong grassroots competitions. The 100m with 79 entries will be incredibly competitive. Hope Parth Singh and Partik Maharana give us a classic showdown! 🙌
R
Rajesh Q
Good initiative by AFI to use this as a qualifier for Asian U20 Championships. But I hope the selection is transparent and based purely on performance - we've seen too many deserving athletes being overlooked in the past. Let merit win!
K
Karthik V
Kerala's Mohammed Ashfaq in the 400m is someone to watch - consistent performer at national level. And great to see Odisha producing talent like Bapi Hansda. This is what makes Indian sports beautiful - talent coming from every corner. 🎯
J
James A
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