Top five players to watch at 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025
A host of India’s top athletes will be in action.
The 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025 is set to take place from September 27 to 30 at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand. A total of 45 events (22 men, 22 women, and 1 mixed) are set to be contested among the finest athletes from the country.
The event will serve as a crucial platform for athletes striving to find a place in the Indian contingent for the 2026 Asian Games. For instance, it will be the final selection trial for the 4x100m men’s/women’s Relay team for the continental event.
It is worth noting that the majority of the Indian players, who represented India at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo earlier this month, will miss this tournament. However, a few of them would uplift the competition’s standards and test the other athletes, who are trying to prove their merit on the national stage.
Let’s take a look at the top players to watch out for at the 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025.
Athletes to watch out for at 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025
#5 Dev Meena
Dev Meena is the current national record holder in men’s pole vault event. He achieved the feat at the FISU World University Games in July 2025, after clearing the 5.40m mark, which was the entry standard for the 2023 Asian Games.
Meena has a chance to earn a berth in the 2026 Asian Games if he can match or better the sixth-place finish of 5.45m set by Seif Heneida in the upcoming competitions.
Also Read: India at World Para Athletics Championships 2025: Schedule, results, live streaming details
#4 Shivam Lohakare
The 20-year-old javelin thrower stunned the onlookers with his performance at the Inter Services Athletics Championship 2025.
With his throw of 84.31m, Shivam Lokhare smashed the Services (SSCB) record held by Neeraj Chopra. Notably, Chopra has held the record since 2018, with his throw of 83.80m.
Although the event was non-certified, it marked the fourth consecutive time that Lohakare breached the 80m barrier this year.
Earlier, he secured a third-place finish at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship with his throw of 80.20m. He was just behind Rohit Yadav and Sachin Yadav, who represent India in Tokyo.
#3 Tamilarasu S
The National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships saw Tamilarasu S win the gold medal in the men’s 100m event with a timing of 10.22, which is now his personal best. Interestingly, it was the joint fourth-fastest time by an Indian sprinter, leveling Manikanta, who clocked 10.22s in the Indian Grand Prix 1 this year.
Earlier this month, Tamilarasu also secured the gold medal in the 100m event at the Inter Railways competition with a timing of 10.42s.
#2 Pooja Olla
Pooja Olla participated in two events (women’s 800m and 1500m) at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. She produced her personal best of 2:01.03 in the 800m event to finish seventh, while registering a timing of 4:13.75 to end 11th in the 1500m event.
Pooja will only take part in the women’s 800m event at the National Open Athletics Championships. In August, she won the gold medal in the same event at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2025 in Chennai with a timing of 2:02.27. It will be interesting to see if she can continue her purple patch.
#1 Sarvesh Kushare
High jumper Sarvesh Kushare was one of the finest performers for the Indian contingent at the World Athletics Championships. After a leap of 2.25m in the qualification round, he became the first Indian to qualify for the World Championship final in the high jump event.
In the final, Kushare cleared the 2.28m mark, which was the highest-ever finish by an Indian in a global event. Although he finished sixth in the final, it was a proud moment for him and the country. The next target for him will be to breach the national record of 2.29m held by Tejaswin Shankar.
When and where will 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025 take place?
The competition will take place from 27 to 30 September at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
How many events will be contested?
A total of 45 events will be held – 22 men’s, 22 women’s, and 1 mixed relay event.
Why is this championship important for Indian athletes?
It serves as an important qualification platform for the 2026 Asian Games, including the final selection trial for the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams.
Who holds the current national record in men’s high jump?
The record is 2.29m, held by Tejaswin Shankar. Sarvesh Kushare will aim to surpass it.
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Farzan is a journalist at Khel Now covering Indian Olympic sports and kabaddi. With five years of experience working with major sports organizations like Chennaiyin FC, Dabang Delhi K.C., Rajasthan Royals, and Yuva Kabaddi Series, he brings diverse expertise. Farzan has covered two Olympics, one Commonwealth Games, and one Asian Games, making his knowledge of Indian sports broad and versatile.
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