Inter state Athletics Championships 2023: Top 10 athletes to watch out for

Neeraj Chopra and Avinash Sable are the notable absentees from the competition.

The National Inter State Athletics Championships 2023 is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. From June 15 to June 19, this grand event will bring together top athletes from across the country. Moreover, as the 62nd edition, these championships will serve as the crucial selection trials for the upcoming Asian Games. The Asian Games is set to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8 and will feature the best athletes who secure their spots through their outstanding performances at the National Inter State Athletics Championships.

Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra and steeplechase runner Avinash Sable, who have already secured spots for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, will not be participating in the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships 2023. While Neeraj Chopra is currently training in Turkey, Avinash Sable is diligently preparing for his upcoming season in Colorado Springs, USA. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has granted exemptions to the two athletes based on their recent successes in significant events.

It is worth noting that other Indian athletes currently training and competing abroad, such as Murali Sreeshankar, Annu Rani, Jyothi Yarraji and many others have not received similar waivers. These athletes, who are striving to secure their spots in the Asian Games squad will be expected to participate in the National Inter State Athletics Championships 2023 alongside their fellow competitors.

1. Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump)

Keep an eye on this remarkable Tamil Nadu youngster as he establishes himself as an athlete to watch out for in the triple jump event. Recently, he set a new national record with a remarkable gold-winning jump of 17.37m at the Prueba de Confrontacion athletics meet in Havana.

He has not only ascended to the second position on this year's world list but has also secured a spot in the prestigious World Championships in Budapest. The presence of competitors such as Commonwealth medallists Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker adds an extra layer of excitement to the triple jump event.

2. Sreeshankar Murali (Long Jump)

Securing a commendable third place at the long jump event of the Paris Diamond League 2023, Sreeshankar Murali showcased his dominance in the international stage. Now, he is gearing up to renew his exhilarating duel with Jeswin Aldrin, who previously snatched away Sreeshankar's national record with an impressive jump of 8.42m in March earlier this year.

While Jeswin has already met the qualification standard, Sreeshankar is determined to reach the 8.25m mark required for World Championship qualification. As these talented athletes go head-to-head once again, the stage is set for a thrilling competition where both will strive to outperform each other.

3. Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon)

In a surprising move, high jumper Tejaswin Shankar has made the decision to participate in the decathlon and opted to skip the high jump event. Notably, Tejaswin holds the national record in high jump with an impressive clearance of 2.29 meters achieved in April 2018. Venturing into just his second decathlon competition, the 24-year-old displayed remarkable performance and came incredibly close to breaking the national record.

Tejaswin accumulated an impressive total of 7648 points at the Jim Click Shootout in Arizona in April. He fell just ten points short of Bharatinder Singh's long-standing mark of 7658 points, which has remained unbroken since 2011. With such a remarkable performance, the stage is set for Tejaswin to potentially shatter the record in this meet.

4. Sandeep Kumar (Race Walk)

Adding to the list of players to watch out for is Sandeep, a formidable athlete who has previously represented India at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. With an impressive track record, Sandeep currently holds national records for both the 50km and 20km race walking events.

This has established him as a strong contender in the field of race walking. As Sandeep continues to push boundaries and set new benchmarks, he remains a noteworthy athlete to keep an eye on.

5. Amiya Kumar Mallick (Sprint)

Amiya Kumar Mallick, who recently emerged as the fastest male athlete in the 26th National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships held in Ranchi is expected to make another remarkable display in this year. As he continues to dominate in the sprint events, Mallick's consistent performances make him a promising contender for international competitions.

6. Parul Chaudhary (Long Distance Runner)

Parul Chaudhary's recent victory at the Track Night NYC 2023 athletics meet in New York has solidified her as a top contender in long-distance running. She won the women's 3000m steeplechase event with an impressive time of 9:41.88, adding to her previous accomplishment of breaking the women's 5000m national record. Chaudhary comfortably surpassed the qualifying mark for the Asian Athletics Championships and is set eye for the national record in Steeple chase.

7. Annu Rani (Javelin Throw)

Rani, an accomplished javelin thrower, has established herself as a formidable force after she secured the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games last year and achieved silver at the 2019 Asian Championships with a personal best throw of 63.82m. Currently ranked as the 10th best javelin thrower in the world, Rani has set her sights on reaching the 65m mark at the Budapest Worlds.

Despite being invited to the prestigious Paris Diamond League, she faced visa issues that hindered her ability to travel for competitions. Nevertheless, she is an athlete to watch out for as she continues to push boundaries and excel in javelin throwing.

8. Priyanka Goswami (Race Walk)

Racewalker Priyanka Goswami has achieved significant milestones in her career, securing qualification for both the 2023 World Athletics Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics during the India Open National Racewalking competition held earlier this year in Ranchi.

Her exceptional performance and determination have earned her a well-deserved spot among the elite athletes who will compete on the global stage. It is without a doubt that she will emerge as the shining star of the competition.

9. Shaili Singh (Long Jump)

Shaili Singh is an emerging talent in the long jump event. She kicked off her 2023 international outdoor season with an impressive bronze medal at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Yokohama. As the silver medallist at the 2021 U-20 Worlds and boasting a personal best of 6.76m, Shaili achieved a wind-assisted jump of 6.65m (+2.1), which won her the bronze. Her strong start to the season highlights her ability to break the meet record in this edition of interstate athletics championships.

10. Jyothi Yarraji (100m women's hurdles)

Jyothi Yarraji, the first Indian woman to complete the 100m women's hurdles race with a sub-13 timing. During the 61st National Open Athletics Championship in Bengaluru, Jyothi broke her previous national record by clocking an impressive time of 12.82s. This year presents a new chapter for Jyothi Yarraji, as she aims to continue her record-breaking spree in women's hurdles.

While her accomplishments have been impressive, Jyothi's journey has not always been without its challenges. At the Inter State Athletics Championships in Chennai in June last year, where all eyes were on her, she encountered a stumble over the hurdles. It was a heartbreak for Jyothi, as many had anticipated her dominance in the race. However, this year the stage is set for a triumphant outcome.