Athletics

A college-led anti-drug initiative has spotlighted the role of sports as a powerful preventive mechanism against substance abuse among youth. The event witnessed strong participation from students and athletes, who reinforced the campaign through awareness slogans and a collective pledge. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Sudhir Singh emphasized how structured sports engagement fosters discipline, identity, and positive peer influence, reducing vulnerability to drug use.

Allegations of misconduct by Paralympic champion Sumit Antil against coach Naval Singh have reignited concerns over athlete welfare and institutional accountability in India’s sports ecosystem. Supported by Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Antil has formally approached the Sports Authority of India with allegations of mental harassment and verbal abuse. While SAI acknowledged the complaint, it clarified that the coach operates under the Athletics Federation of India.

Indian long-distance running reached a historic milestone as Sawan Barwal set a new national record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam, clocking 2:11:58 in the men’s marathon. The performance eclipsed the decades-old benchmark of Shivnath Singh, which had stood since 1978. By becoming the first Indian to break the 2:12 barrier, Barwal signaled a transformative shift in India’s endurance running standards. The achievement reflects improved training ecosystems, growing institutional support, and the increasing global competitiveness of Indian athletics.

In a watershed moment for Indian athletics, Sawan Barwal delivered a record-breaking performance at the NN Marathon Rotterdam on April 12, 2026, clocking 2:11:58 in his debut over the 42.195 km distance. The 28-year-old surpassed the longstanding national mark of 2:12:00 set by Shivnath Singh in 1978, ending one of the oldest records in Indian sport. While the improvement was marginal at two seconds, its symbolic weight is profound, reflecting a structural shift in India’s endurance running ecosystem and renewed global competitiveness.

The Indian Athletics Series 2026 kicked off at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium with standout performances across multiple field events. Murali Sreeshankar opened his season emphatically, achieving 8.15m in the men’s long jump on his fourth attempt, surpassing both 8.00m and the Asian Games qualifying mark of 7.91m. Former Asian champion Abdulla Aboobacker claimed the men’s triple jump with 16.82m, while Sarvesh Kushare, a Paris 2024 Olympian, won the men’s high jump at 2.23m. The event highlighted India’s growing strength and depth in athletics.