National Open Athletics: Nirbhay Choudhary eyes another big throw in Delhi

National record holder Nirbhay Choudhary will target a personal best at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships in Delhi. The four-day meet will also feature comeback-bound sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar and leading race walkers Servin Sebastian and Paramjeet Singh Bisht

Hyderabad: The four-day 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026, starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday, will provide a good platform for hammer thrower Nirbhay Choudhary to further improve his profile.
Last month, the Delhi-based thrower set a national record of 71.02m.

“The goal at the National Open Athletics will be to improve my personal best,” Choudhary said.
After setting a national record at the Indian Athletics Final Series here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in September, Choudhary said his training had gone according to plan.

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“I’m physically and mentally stronger than before,” said Choudhary. The men’s hammer throw final is scheduled for the opening day, October 8.

On comeback trail
India’s former national record holder in the men’s 100m, Manikanta Hoblidhar, is on the comeback trail and aims to win a gold medal. He sustained an injury in April this year.

In the last six months, he has competed in one state-level meet and clocked 10.46 seconds in the 100m dash.

“The National meet in Delhi will be a good opportunity for me to compete with the top sprinters and evaluate myself,” the Services sprinter said.

At the 2025 edition of the National Open Athletics Championships, Hoblidhar won the gold medal with a time of 10.19 seconds, a personal best.

The four-day 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026, starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday, will provide a good platform for hammer thrower Nirbhay Choudhary to further improve his profile.

Last month, the Delhi-based thrower set a national record of 71.02m.

“The goal at the National Open Athletics will be to improve my personal best,” Choudhary said.

After setting a national record at the Indian Athletics Final Series here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in September, Choudhary said his training had gone according to plan.

“I’m physically and mentally stronger than before,” said Choudhary. The men’s hammer throw final is scheduled for the opening day, October 8.

On comeback trail

India’s former national record holder in the men’s 100m, Manikanta Hoblidhar, is on the comeback trail and aims to win a gold medal. He sustained an injury in April this year.

In the last six months, he has competed in one state-level meet and clocked 10.46 seconds in the 100m dash.

“The National meet in Delhi will be a good opportunity for me to compete with the top sprinters and evaluate myself,” the Services sprinter said.

At the 2025 edition of the National Open Athletics Championships, Hoblidhar won the gold medal with a time of 10.19 seconds, a personal best.

Focus on race walkers

India’s leading race walker Servin Sebastian is focused on achieving a good result at the season-ending four-day national domestic competition.

“The aim will be to post a good time here in Delhi,” the Services race walker said.

The country’s top race walkers, including Servin, missed the Asian Games 2026 as they were unable to achieve the qualification criteria set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The men’s 21km half marathon race walk is expected to be competitive here in Delhi. Olympian Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar are two prominent athletes in the field.

Bisht is also looking ahead to showcasing his potential at the season-ending domestic competition.

“Preparation has gone well. The aim is to clock a personal best over the 21km half marathon race walk,” Bisht said.

Several Asian Games 2026 medal winners, including MR Poovamma, Kiran Pahal, Manu TS and Sarvesh Anil Kushare, have also confirmed their entries.

India’s leading race walker Servin Sebastian is focused on achieving a good result at the season-ending four-day national domestic competition.

“The aim will be to post a good time here in Delhi,” the Services race walker said.

The country’s top race walkers, including Servin, missed the Asian Games 2026 as they were unable to achieve the qualification criteria set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The men’s 21km half marathon race walk is expected to be competitive here in Delhi. Olympian Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar are two prominent athletes in the field.

Bisht is also looking ahead to showcasing his potential at the season-ending domestic competition.

“Preparation has gone well. The aim is to clock a personal best over the 21km half marathon race walk,” Bisht said.

Several Asian Games 2026 medal winners, including MR Poovamma, Kiran Pahal, Manu TS and Sarvesh Anil Kushare, have also confirmed their entries.