The 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships are scheduled to begin from February 6 to 8 in Tianjin, China. On Thursday, January 8, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) released the Indian squad that is expected to leave for the event by February 3. A total of nine players in each men’s and women’s event will be featured in the tournament, competing across different event categories.
India’s women sprinters Nithya Gandhe and Abhinaya Rajarajan will lead the women’s section in the 60m event. Meanwhile, Moumita Mondal will be part of the 60m hurdles and long jump events, respectively, while Pragyan Prasanti Sahu will join Mondal in the hurdles. In the field events, Pooja will compete in high jump, Yogita in shot put, and KA Anamika in the pentathlon.
Returning from injury, Ancy Sojan will be part of the long jump event. The Asian Games silver medalist finished in eighth place in the women’s long jump event at the World University Games 2025 held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
On the other hand, two-time men’s shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will lead the men’s squad at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. Toor is one of the notable names in men’s throw events. In the 2024 Asian Indoor Championships held in Tehran 2024 he won gold with his best time of 19.72m. He currently holds India’s national outdoor shot put record of 21.77m, scored in Bhubaneswar in 2023.
The two-time Asian Games gold medallist will be joined by shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill, long jumper Shahnawaz Khan and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel. The men’s squad also includes heptathlete Tejaswin Shankar, sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar in the 60m event. Meanwhile, Tejas Shirse will take part in the 60m hurdles, while J Adrash Ram will participate in the high jump. CV Anurag will join Shahnawaz in the long jump.
The 2026 championships in Tianjin mark the beginning for Indian athletes.
Indian squad for Asian Indoor Athletics Championship 2026
Women’s Squad
60m: Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan
60m hurdles: Moumita Mondal, Pragyan Prasanti Sahu
High jump: Pooja
Long jump: Ancy Sojan, Moumita Mondal
Shot put: Yogita
Pentathlon: KA Anamika
Men’s Squad
60m: Manikanta Hoblidhar
60m hurdles: Tejas Shirse
High jump: J Adrash Ram
Long jump: CV Anurag and Shahnawaz Khan
Triple jump: Praveen Chithravel
Shot put: Samardeep Singh Gill, Tajinderpal Singh Toor
Heptathlon: Tejaswin Shankar
