AFI Announces Selection Criteria and Reserve List for Indian Athletics Series Final
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) released detailed guidelines for the upcoming Indian Athletics Series final scheduled for 10 September at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Invitations have been sent to athletes based on their national rankings, which were compiled from the 65th National Inter‑State Senior Athletics Championship held in Bhubaneswar from 24 to 28 June. The final will feature 31 events – 15 men’s and 16 women’s – ranging from sprint distances to technical field events.
Qualification is straightforward: the top eight athletes in each event’s ranking earn a berth in the grand final. For the 1,500 m and 3,000 m steeplechase, the cutoff extends to the top twelve athletes. The deadline for athletes to confirm participation is 10 August. AFI has also identified a reserve pool of four athletes for each event; should any of the top‑eight qualifiers decline, the next highest‑ranked athlete from the reserve list will be promoted.
The selection list includes many of India’s record‑holding and internationally recognized performers. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (85.69 m) stands second in the javelin behind Rohit Yadav’s 87.05 m. Gurindervir Singh retains the leading spot in the men’s 100 m, while Animesh Kujur is ranked first in the 200 m. Vishal Tike leads the 400 m and Sarvesh Anil Kushare tops the high jump rankings. In the women’s division, Vithya Ramraj leads both the 400 m flat and hurdles, Puja commands the 800 m and 1,500 m, and Praful Chaudhary is the front‑runner in the 3,000 m steeplechase. Jyoti Yaraji’s season‑best 12.99 seconds places her at the top of the 100 m hurdles, while Puja Singh and Anshi Sojan lead the high jump and long jump respectively.
Prize money will be awarded to the top six finishers in each discipline, with the champion receiving a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. The final serves as a key preparatory platform for athletes heading to the Asian Games, allowing them to test their form against the country’s best.