A 16-Part Regional Series Across India

The Indian Athletics Series is a new 16-leg programme that will crisscross the country through June 2026. Leg 1 took place in Bengaluru on 4 April, drawing over 400 athletes from 18 states. The simultaneous staging of Legs 2 and 3 in Udaipur and Sangrur is intended to reduce travel costs for athletes from northern and western India while expanding the talent pipeline in athletics across the country.

Remaining legs are scheduled in Ranchi and Chennai (May), followed by Guwahati, Pune, Ludhiana, Trivandrum and Kolkata through June. The series is expected to help athletes meet stricter qualification norms introduced this year, which require participation in at least two prior events before entry into the 29th National Senior Federation Cup in Ranchi from 22 to 25 May.

Key Events on the 2026 Calendar

The AFI calendar includes several firsts. India’s inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships were held on 24-25 March in Bhubaneswar, featuring events such as the 60m dash and indoor shot put. The 3rd National Open Relay follows on 18 April in Chandigarh, while the 24th National Junior Federation Cup runs from 24 to 26 April in Mangalore. These competitions feed directly into the broader sports development ecosystem.

At the international level, India will host an upgraded World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event later in the year, marking the highest-graded global athletics meeting ever staged on Indian soil. The event is expected to attract Olympic-level fields and provide Indian athletes with top-tier competition without the expense of overseas travel.

Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in Sight

The expanded calendar is squarely aimed at India’s Asian Games medal haul target, with Neeraj Chopra’s return from a knee procedure expected to headline the javelin squad. New sprint stars Amlan Borgohain and Jyothi Yarraji are also in the frame for multi-medal performances.

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, scheduled for 2026, offer additional opportunities, particularly in middle-distance events where Indian athletes have historically underperformed. The AFI’s strategy of requiring multiple competition appearances before nationals is designed to ensure peak form at both mega events.

India’s multi-sport ambitions are also receiving a push from other disciplines. PV Sindhu’s 2028 LA Olympics bid and Indian wrestling’s rebuild under new WFI leadership reflect a broader trend of Indian federations investing in long-term athlete development cycles.

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