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Baranica Elangovan — I have been focusing on my technique rather than just performance

Seven athletes have confirmed their participation in the men’s U-20 pole vault event.

The women’s pole vault final will be held on Sunday. Eleven athletes have registered for the event, but the focus will be on Baranica, who set a national record of 4.22m during the inaugural National Indoor Championships at the same venue in March.

Overall, more than 80 athletes have confirmed their participation in the meet.

The heptathlon for men and pentathlon for women will be held in the senior and U-20 categories.

The heptathlon events are 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m. The pentathlon events are 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Spotlight #pole #vaulters #Indian #Indoor #Combined #events #start #Bhubaneswar"> Spotlight on pole vaulters at Indian Indoor Combined events start in Bhubaneswar National record holders Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh and Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu will be among the top draws in the inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition, which begins in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.The two-day meet will be held at the indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex, which hosted the inaugural National Indoor Championships in March. The facility will also host the World Indoor Championships in 2028.Meena has had an impressive season. In March, he equalled his national record of 5.40m during an invitational meet in Taiwan.“My goal here in Bhubaneswar is to do my personal best. I enjoyed my practice sessions at the Kalinga Stadium indoor facility. I’m ready to do my best,” the 20-year-old said.The men’s pole vault qualification mark set by the Athletics Federation of India for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games is 5.25m. The qualification mark for women is 4.45m.The men’s qualification standard for the Asian Games in Japan later this year is 5.45m, while the corresponding mark for women is 4.10m.Fourteen pole vaulters will compete in the men’s event, scheduled for the opening day on Saturday. Other prominent competitors in the fray include Kuldeep Kumar of Madhya Pradesh and Reegan G. of Tamil Nadu, who have cleared 5.30m and 5.35m, respectively, this season.ALSO READ | Baranica Elangovan — I have been focusing on my technique rather than just performanceSeven athletes have confirmed their participation in the men’s U-20 pole vault event.The women’s pole vault final will be held on Sunday. Eleven athletes have registered for the event, but the focus will be on Baranica, who set a national record of 4.22m during the inaugural National Indoor Championships at the same venue in March.Overall, more than 80 athletes have confirmed their participation in the meet.The heptathlon for men and pentathlon for women will be held in the senior and U-20 categories.The heptathlon events are 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m. The pentathlon events are 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m.Published on May 01, 2026 #Spotlight #pole #vaulters #Indian #Indoor #Combined #events #start #Bhubaneswar
Sports news

Baranica Elangovan — I have been focusing on my technique rather than just performance

Seven athletes have confirmed their participation in the men’s U-20 pole vault event.

The women’s pole vault final will be held on Sunday. Eleven athletes have registered for the event, but the focus will be on Baranica, who set a national record of 4.22m during the inaugural National Indoor Championships at the same venue in March.

Overall, more than 80 athletes have confirmed their participation in the meet.

The heptathlon for men and pentathlon for women will be held in the senior and U-20 categories.

The heptathlon events are 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m. The pentathlon events are 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Spotlight #pole #vaulters #Indian #Indoor #Combined #events #start #Bhubaneswar">Spotlight on pole vaulters at Indian Indoor Combined events start in Bhubaneswar

National record holders Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh and Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu will be among the top draws in the inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition, which begins in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The two-day meet will be held at the indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex, which hosted the inaugural National Indoor Championships in March. The facility will also host the World Indoor Championships in 2028.

Meena has had an impressive season. In March, he equalled his national record of 5.40m during an invitational meet in Taiwan.

“My goal here in Bhubaneswar is to do my personal best. I enjoyed my practice sessions at the Kalinga Stadium indoor facility. I’m ready to do my best,” the 20-year-old said.

The men’s pole vault qualification mark set by the Athletics Federation of India for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games is 5.25m. The qualification mark for women is 4.45m.

The men’s qualification standard for the Asian Games in Japan later this year is 5.45m, while the corresponding mark for women is 4.10m.

Fourteen pole vaulters will compete in the men’s event, scheduled for the opening day on Saturday. Other prominent competitors in the fray include Kuldeep Kumar of Madhya Pradesh and Reegan G. of Tamil Nadu, who have cleared 5.30m and 5.35m, respectively, this season.

ALSO READ | Baranica Elangovan — I have been focusing on my technique rather than just performance

Seven athletes have confirmed their participation in the men’s U-20 pole vault event.

The women’s pole vault final will be held on Sunday. Eleven athletes have registered for the event, but the focus will be on Baranica, who set a national record of 4.22m during the inaugural National Indoor Championships at the same venue in March.

Overall, more than 80 athletes have confirmed their participation in the meet.

The heptathlon for men and pentathlon for women will be held in the senior and U-20 categories.

The heptathlon events are 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m. The pentathlon events are 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Spotlight #pole #vaulters #Indian #Indoor #Combined #events #start #Bhubaneswar

National record holders Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh and Baranica Elangovan of Tamil Nadu…

World Athletics denies 11 athletes permission to change nationality to Turkiye

The AFI expressed confidence that sooner than later India would be taken off Category ‘A.’

The doping menace has seriously challenged India’s aspirations to host multi-sport events. The country – which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is interested in bidding for the 2036 Olympics – has been the table topper in overall dope positive cases for three consecutive years.

During his recent visit to Delhi, WADA Director Witold Banka highlighted the issue of easy availability of performance enhancing drugs in India and sought Government agencies’ support to break supply lines.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government would introduce criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances.

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#India #moved #Category #doping #concerns #stricter #antidoping #norms #follow"> India moved to Category A over doping concerns; stricter anti-doping norms to follow KOLKATA: Indian athletes will have to go through stringent anti-doping stipulations, including minimum testing requirements, as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has moved the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) from Category ‘B’ to ‘A’ because of the “consistently extremely high risk of doping in India.”The AIU, an independent body managing integrity related issues in international athletics, recently took the decision on the basis of Rule 15 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on categorisation of federations according to their doping risk to the sport.The AIU noted that India ranked in the top two for the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics between 2022 and 2025. “In 2022, India recorded 48 ADRVs (2 nd); in 2023, 63 (2 nd); in 2024, 71 (1 st); and for 2025, India has recorded 30 ADRVs so far (1 st).”AIU chair David Howman said, “The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk.“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed. The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of athletics, as we have done with other ‘Category A’ member federations.”Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine are there in Category ‘A.’“We will continue to work with the AIU and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in the battle against doping in Indian athletics. The AFI has been advocating to criminalise the perpetrators of doping, especially at the grassroots level. It will deter coaches and parents from resorting to doping young athletes,” said an AFI release.ALSO READ: World Athletics denies 11 athletes permission to change nationality to TurkiyeThe AFI expressed confidence that sooner than later India would be taken off Category ‘A.’The doping menace has seriously challenged India’s aspirations to host multi-sport events. The country – which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is interested in bidding for the 2036 Olympics – has been the table topper in overall dope positive cases for three consecutive years.During his recent visit to Delhi, WADA Director Witold Banka highlighted the issue of easy availability of performance enhancing drugs in India and sought Government agencies’ support to break supply lines.Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government would introduce criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #India #moved #Category #doping #concerns #stricter #antidoping #norms #follow
Sports news

World Athletics denies 11 athletes permission to change nationality to Turkiye

The AFI expressed confidence that sooner than later India would be taken off Category ‘A.’

The doping menace has seriously challenged India’s aspirations to host multi-sport events. The country – which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is interested in bidding for the 2036 Olympics – has been the table topper in overall dope positive cases for three consecutive years.

During his recent visit to Delhi, WADA Director Witold Banka highlighted the issue of easy availability of performance enhancing drugs in India and sought Government agencies’ support to break supply lines.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government would introduce criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances.

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#India #moved #Category #doping #concerns #stricter #antidoping #norms #follow">India moved to Category A over doping concerns; stricter anti-doping norms to follow

KOLKATA: Indian athletes will have to go through stringent anti-doping stipulations, including minimum testing requirements, as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has moved the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) from Category ‘B’ to ‘A’ because of the “consistently extremely high risk of doping in India.”

The AIU, an independent body managing integrity related issues in international athletics, recently took the decision on the basis of Rule 15 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on categorisation of federations according to their doping risk to the sport.

The AIU noted that India ranked in the top two for the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics between 2022 and 2025. “In 2022, India recorded 48 ADRVs (2 nd); in 2023, 63 (2 nd); in 2024, 71 (1 st); and for 2025, India has recorded 30 ADRVs so far (1 st).”

AIU chair David Howman said, “The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk.

“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed. The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of athletics, as we have done with other ‘Category A’ member federations.”

Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine are there in Category ‘A.’

“We will continue to work with the AIU and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in the battle against doping in Indian athletics. The AFI has been advocating to criminalise the perpetrators of doping, especially at the grassroots level. It will deter coaches and parents from resorting to doping young athletes,” said an AFI release.

ALSO READ: World Athletics denies 11 athletes permission to change nationality to Turkiye

The AFI expressed confidence that sooner than later India would be taken off Category ‘A.’

The doping menace has seriously challenged India’s aspirations to host multi-sport events. The country – which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is interested in bidding for the 2036 Olympics – has been the table topper in overall dope positive cases for three consecutive years.

During his recent visit to Delhi, WADA Director Witold Banka highlighted the issue of easy availability of performance enhancing drugs in India and sought Government agencies’ support to break supply lines.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government would introduce criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances.

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#India #moved #Category #doping #concerns #stricter #antidoping #norms #follow

KOLKATA: Indian athletes will have to go through stringent anti-doping stipulations, including minimum testing requirements,…