Six Reliance Foundation athletes book Asian Games 2026 berths in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, June 25
Reliance Foundation athletes delivered a stellar performance on Day 2 of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium on Thursday, securing six Asian Games 2026 qualification spots across track and field events.
The contingent made a massive statement in the sprints, led by Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra, who clinched Gold medals in the Men's and Women's 200m events, respectively.
Rising star Unnathi Aiyappa joined them on the podium with a hard-fought Silver in the Women's 200m. On the middle-distance front, experienced runner Md Afsal dominated the field to bag Gold in the Men's 800m, as per a press release.
The field athletes added crucial silver-lining success to the tally, with Krishna Menon securing a Silver medal in Shot Put and Baranica E clearing the bar for a Silver in the Women's Pole Vault. All six athletes successfully breached the selection criteria, marking a highly successful second day for the Reliance Foundation program as they focus on representing India on the continental stage in Japan later this year.
Yesterday, Athlete Jyothi Yarraji made an unforgettable comeback after 383 days away from the track that saw her win Gold and run under-13s again,
She completed her run in 13.14 seconds in the opening heats of the women's 100m hurdles, booking her spot for the Asian Games to be held this year from September 19 to October 4.
Mohammed Afsal also met the qualifying mark for the Asian Games in the men's 800m event at the Inter State Athletics Championships, clocking 1:47.69 minutes.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's fantastic that six athletes booked their Asian Games berths in one day! Unnathi Aiyappa's silver in the 200m and Baranica E in pole vault are especially impressive. However, I do wish more state-level athletes from smaller towns got similar corporate support. Reliance Foundation is doing great work, but we need more such initiatives across India.
Wah! Jyothi Yarraji running 13.14 seconds in the 100m hurdles after such a long break — that takes serious mental strength. And Mohammed Afsal's 1:47.69 in the 800m is world-class. The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar is turning into a real hub for athletics. Proud moment for Odisha and India! 🏃♂️🌟
Amazing performance by all athletes, especially Krishna Menon in shot put — a silver in a field event is always tough in Indian athletics. But I have to ask: why does the Asian Games happen every year now? It feels like these qualifying standards are being lowered. Still, good luck to all six in Japan!
This is exactly the kind of news we need more often — positive stories about Indian sports! Reliance Foundation is clearly investing in grassroots talent. Big shoutout to Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra for their golds. Let's hope they bring back medals from the Asian Games 2026! 💪🇮🇳
As someone who follows athletics globally, it's encouraging to see Indian athletes
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