The future of Indian athletics shone brightly in Ludhiana this week as the city's Guru Nanak Stadium track played host to a spectacular display of raw talent. The annual open district athletics meet, organized by the Ludhiana District Athletics Association, concluded on Tuesday after two days of intense competition that saw young athletes from under-12 to senior categories deliver standout performances in hurdles, sprints, and field events.
Track Events: A Showcase of Speed and Agility
The meet drew enthusiastic crowds and competitors across seven age groups for both men and women: under-12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, and seniors. The hurdle events were a particular highlight, showcasing the technical prowess of the participants. In the under-16 boys' 80-meter hurdles, Dev Yadav sprinted to gold, with Harman Singh securing silver. The bronze medal was shared by Yashmit Sharma and Sukhdeep Singh. The girls' race in the same category was won by Anushka Sharma, followed by Angel and Heena.
Moving up the age groups, Jashandeep Kaur claimed the top spot in the under-18 girls' 100-meter hurdles, leaving Pehal and Gurleen to take second and third place respectively. The under-20 boys' 110-meter hurdles saw Gurmeet Singh emerge victorious, with Hardeep Kumar and Barinder Singh finishing close behind.
The sprint events were equally electrifying. Karandeep Singh Sidhu blazed to victory in the under-18 boys' 200 meters, with Aaradhya and Ramdyal Singh completing the podium. Gurleen Kaur mirrored this achievement by winning the girls' equivalent race, ahead of Mandeep Kaur and Lakshveer Kaur. In the under-20 category, Simratvir Singh led the boys' 200 meters, outpacing Ranveer Singh Bassi and Sudhakar Singh. Raveena took gold in the girls' race, with Raunakpreet Kaur and Dhriti earning silver and bronze.
Senior and Long-Distance Triumphs
The under-23 and senior categories also produced memorable moments. Mohit won the under-23 boys' 200 meters, with Harmanjit Singh and Jashandeep Singh following. In the women's 200 meters for the same age group, Mehak Sharma topped the charts, followed by Yagini and Kuljeet Kaur. The grueling 10,000-meter race was dominated by Kishan Lal Sonkar, who finished ahead of Harshvardan Mehta and Aditya Thakur.
Dominance in Field Events
The field events were not to be outdone, with powerful throws marking the discus competitions. In the under-18 boys' discus throw, Sahibpreet Singh launched the discus farthest to win gold. Harman Singh Baath and Ritish Sharma secured the silver and bronze medals. The under-20 boys' event was won by Kulraj Sahota, whose winning throw placed him ahead of Gurfateh Singh and Vanshdeep Singh.
Officials Hail the Next Generation of Athletes
The successful event concluded with high praise from officials and coaches. Satbir Singh Atwal, an IPS officer who serves as the president of both the Punjab and Ludhiana District Athletics Association, expressed that he was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic turnout, especially from the younger age groups. His sentiment underscores the growing grassroots interest in track and field in the region.
The final day also saw Dronacharya awardee Sukhdev Singh Pannu join a panel of respected coaches and officials—including Sanjiv Sharma, Bhupinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Saudagar Singh, and Chamkaur Singh—in expressing immense pride in the athletes' performances. Their collective presence and approval highlight the significance of this district meet as a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing India's future sporting stars.
The Ludhiana District Athletics Association's annual meet has once again proven to be an indispensable event in Punjab's sporting calendar, successfully bridging the gap between budding talent and competitive excellence.
