Baranica Elangovan Shatters National Pole Vault Record at Inaugural Indoor Championships
In a stunning display of athleticism, Tamil Nadu's international pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan captured the spotlight on the opening day of the first-ever National Indoor Athletics Championships. The 29-year-old athlete soared to a height of 4.22 meters, establishing a new national record in the women's pole vault event. This remarkable achievement took place at the Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Record-Breaking Performance and Athlete's Reaction
Baranica's vault of 4.22 meters eclipsed the previous national record of 4.21 meters, which was set by Rosy Meena Paulraj in Bengaluru back in 2022. In a post-competition interview, an elated Baranica shared her thoughts on this historic moment. "It's a good day for me to enter my name in the record books. I've been trying hard to cross 4.20m in the past, but Tuesday turned out to be a lucky day for me," she stated. Despite her success, she attempted to push further to 4.25 meters but was unable to clear that height.
Exciting Duel in Men's Long Jump
Away from the pole vault arena, the men's long jump event featured an intense competition between Praveen Chithravel of Tamil Nadu, representing JSW, and Odisha's own Sarun Payasingh. Ultimately, it was the 25-year-old Payasingh who clinched the gold medal with a personal best distance of 7.80 meters. This victory was particularly sweet for Payasingh, as he triumphed in front of a supportive home crowd in Bhubaneswar.
Payasingh, who transitioned from football to long jumping, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. "My main focus here at the National Indoor competition was to improve my personal best. I'm happy to have successfully achieved my goal," he remarked. His journey to gold included a no-mark in the first attempt, but he soared to 7.80 meters in his second jump, securing the top spot. He recorded jumps of 7.69 meters and 7.79 meters in his final attempts, attributing his success to a recent change in jumping technique. "I'm on the right track," Payasingh confidently added, noting that his previous best of 7.78 meters was set at the Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bengaluru.
Praveen Chithravel's Experience and Future Goals
The men's long jump also saw the participation of Tamil Nadu's international athlete Praveen Chithravel, the national record holder in triple jump. Competing in the long jump to gain valuable indoor experience, Chithravel recorded jumps of 7.32 meters, 7.78 meters, and 7.55 meters. He reflected on the event, saying, "It was a good experience for me here in Bhubaneswar." His primary focus remains on the upcoming 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, scheduled from May 22 to 25, 2026. This competition is crucial as it serves as a qualification event for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, set to take place from July 23 to August 2.
Inauguration and Significance of the Event
The National Indoor Athletics Championships were inaugurated by Odisha's Sports and Youth Services Minister, Suraj Suryabanshi. He emphasized the historic importance of hosting the first edition of this event at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. "Hosting the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar will further reaffirm Odisha as the Sports Capital of India," Suryabanshi declared, highlighting the state's growing prominence in the sports arena.
Day-One Results Overview
The opening day of the championships witnessed several impressive performances across various events. Below is a summary of the key results:
- Men's 800m: Mohammed Afsal (Air Force) won with 1:47.86 seconds, followed by Kalyan JR (Karnataka) at 1:53.98 seconds and Sayan Karmakar (West Bengal) at 1:56.98 seconds.
- Men's U20 800m: Lokesh Magendhiran (Tamil Nadu) took gold in 1:53.92 seconds, with Rajdip Pal (West Bengal) at 2:02.34 seconds.
- Men's 3,000m: Shivaji Parashuram (Reliance) finished first in 8:09.88 seconds, ahead of Vinod Singh (Madhya Pradesh) at 8:16.93 seconds and Rahul Kumar Verma (Chhattisgarh) at 8:18.21 seconds.
- Men's 60m Hurdles: Krishik M (Karnataka) won in 7.71 seconds, with Rathish P (Reliance) at 7.84 seconds and Muhammed Lazan (JSW) at 8.00 seconds.
- Men's Long Jump: Sarun Payasingh (Odisha) gold with 7.80m, Praveen Chithravel (JSW) silver with 7.78m, and David P (Railway) bronze with 7.69m.
- Men's Shot Put: Ravi Kumar (BSF) won with 17.17m, Adhish Ghildiyal (Uttarakhand) second with 16.92m, and Balaji (Tamil Nadu) third with 16.74m.
- Men's U20 Shot Put: Ommkar Prasad Nand (Odisha) gold with 17.77m, SAI Kiran A (NCOE Patiala) silver with 17.00m, and Harshit Gahlot (JSW) bronze with 16.98m.
- Women's 3,000m: Priyanka C (Karnataka) first in 9:42.05 seconds, Kajal Rangnath (Gujarat) second in 9:44.01 seconds, and Sushmita Tigga (Odisha) third in 10:22.30 seconds.
- Women's Shot Put: Rekha (NCOE Patiala) won with 15.63m, Mayuri Arade (Karnataka) second with 9.15m.
- Women's U20 Shot Put: Dona Maria (Kerala) gold with 13.35m, Khusboo (Haryana) silver with 12.03m, and Akhshaya GR (Tamil Nadu) bronze with 11.89m.
- Women's Pole Vault: Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) set record with 4.22m, Blessy Kunjumon (Kerala) second with 3.95m, and Mariya Jaison (Kerala) third with 3.38m.
- Women's Long Jump: Anamika KA (JSW) gold with 6.05m, Manisha Merel (Odisha) silver with 6.04m, and Sherin A (JSW) bronze with 5.92m.
This inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships has set a high standard for future events, showcasing the talent and dedication of Indian athletes on a national stage.
