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Tajinderpal Toor Leads Indian Squad for Asian Indoor Athletics Championships

The Athletics Federation of India has named a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China. Two-time Asian Indoor shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will captain the contingent, which includes other prominent athletes like Tejaswin Shankar and Praveen Chithravel. The team aims to build on India's previous success at the event, where they secured four medals, including three golds. The championships will serve as the season opener for several athletes ahead of the 2026 competitive cycle.

Key Points: Tajinderpal Toor Leads India at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships

  • Toor is a two-time Asian Indoor champion
  • Team includes promising athletes like Samardeep Gill
  • India won 4 medals at last edition
  • Event scheduled for Feb 6-8 in Tianjin
2 min read

Shot-putter Tajinderpal Toor to lead 17-member Indian team at Asian Indoor Athletics C'ships

Two-time champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor to captain 17-member Indian team at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China.

"Two-time Asian Indoor champion in men's shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, will lead the 17-member Indian team - Athletics Federation of India"

New Delhi, Jan 8

Two-time Asian Indoor champion in men's shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, will lead the 17-member Indian team at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place from February 6 to 8 in Tianjin, China.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the 17-member Indian contingent on Thursday, which includes promising shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill. The team will depart for the continental indoor meet on February 3.

Toor's gold medal-winning performance at the 11th Asian Indoor meet in Tehran, Iran, was 19.72m. Punjab's 31-year-old international thrower's national outdoor record is 21.77m, set in 2023 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Two-time Asian Games champion Toor also won the shot put title at the 10th Asian Indoor Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Promising long jumper Shahnawaz Khan and experienced triple jumper Praveen Chithravel will also begin their 2026 season at the Asian Indoor Championships in China.

Tejaswin Shankar (heptathlon) and Manikanta Hoblidhar (60m) are other prominent names in the men's team for next month's Asian Indoor Championships.

Country's top female sprinters, Nithya Gandhe and Abhinaya Rajarajan, will compete in the 60 m dash in Tianjin. Moumita Mondal will compete in both the 60 m hurdles and the women's long jump.

In the previous edition in Iran, 13 Indian athletes, six women and seven men, participated in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2024. India concluded the event with four medals: three gold and one silver. Top finishes were achieved by men's shot putter Toor, women's hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, and Harmilan Bains, while Ankita secured the only silver in the women's 3000m race.

Indian national athletics team: Men: Manikanta Hoblidhar (60m), Tejas Shirse (60m hurdles), J Adrash Ram (high jump), CV Anurag and Shahnawaz Khan (long jump), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Samardeep Singh Gill, Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Tejaswin Shankar (heptathlon). Women: Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan (60m), Moumita Mondal and Pragyan Prasanti Sahu (60m hurdles), Pooja (high jump), Ancy Sojan and Moumita Mondal (long jump), Yogita (shot put) and KA Anamika (Pentathlon).

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The team looks promising! Good mix of experienced champions like Toor and young talents. Excited to see Shahnawaz Khan and Praveen Chithravel in action. Hope they all stay injury-free and perform to their potential. All the best!
R
Rohit P
Solid team selection by AFI. Toor is the obvious choice for captain. His record speaks for itself. But I hope the federation is also providing them with the best facilities and support staff. Sometimes our athletes lose out due to poor planning, not lack of talent.
S
Sarah B
It's fantastic to see such a strong women's contingent as well! Nithya, Abhinaya, Moumita - all the best. Indian women athletes have been shining lately. Let's cheer for them equally! Go for gold, ladies! 💪
V
Vikram M
China is always a tough venue, but our team has the experience. Toor's 21.77m outdoor record is massive. If he can get close to that indoors, gold is almost certain. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
Good luck to the team! Hope the coverage on TV or streaming is proper this time. Often these Asian events don't get the broadcast they deserve. We want to watch our athletes compete live!

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