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World Athletics Continental Tour in Bhubaneswar on August 10 will feature 160 athletes from 17 nations.
Animesh Kujur is the star attraction at the upcoming Indian Open (Picture credit: Instagram @animesh_kujur_)
A World Athletics Continental Tour, titled the Indian Open is all set to be held in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, August 10, in what will be one of the biggest international athletics competitions to be held in the country. A prestigious Bronze-level meet, just a tier below the Diamond League, will feature 160 athletes competing across 19 events.
Of the 160 athletes all set to compete, 97 are from India and 63 represent 16 other nations. Athletes from a total of 17 countries will take part in the tournament.
The men’s javelin is expected to be a highlight, featuring two of India’s rising stars, Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh. Sri Lanka’s Sumeda Ranasinghe and Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage will be eyeing strong performances as well. Notably, the latter won bronze in the recent NC Classic in Bengaluru.
Sprint events are expected to draw attention as well, with India’s fastest man, Animesh Kujur, competing in both the 100m and 200m races.
“This is the country’s first Continental Tour event and we are hoping for a successful competition so that the world knows we can host this kind of event,” Athletics Federation of India President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said while speaking to the media.
The World Athletics Continental Tour is an annual series of track and field meets, positioned as the second tier of global one-day competitions, just below the Diamond League.
The Continental Tour events provide athletes with a structured platform to compete, earn prize money, and gain valuable world ranking points.
The tour is divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers, each offering different levels of competition and prize money. The Indian leg of the tour will feature a total prize pool of USD 25,000 (almost Rs 22 lakh).
“It is mandatory to include one throwing and one jumping event. The competition should have a minimum of 12 disciplines, including five women’s events. Certain events couldn’t be included as the duration of a one-day Continental Tour event, as per WA guidelines, is two hours and 30 minutes,” Sagoo said.
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