Odisha CM hails World Athletics Tour success, eyes sports tourism hub
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi called the World Athletics Continental Tour 2026 a success and a matter of pride for the state, highlighting its goal to become a sports tourism hub. Indian athletes Rohit Yadav and Murali Sreeshankar won gold.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the successful hosting of the World Athletics Continental Tour 2026 at Kalinga Stadium was a matter of pride for the state, highlighting the participation of over 180 athletes from around 28 countries. He added that Odisha is strengthening its sports infrastructure to attract major international events and emerge as a significant destination for sports tourism.
The Kalinga Stadium hosted the landmark World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet on August 22. Organised by the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and under the aegis of World Athletics, this prestigious single-day event elevated the tournament from its successful Bronze-level status last year.
Speaking to reporters, CM Mohan Charan Majhi said, "It is a matter of joy and pride for all of us that the 'World Athletics Continental Tour 2026' was successfully organised at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. More than 180 participants from approximately 28 countries competed in 18 events during this tournament."
"Many talented athletes from India and Odisha also participated in the competition. In the coming days, Odisha will certainly play a significant role in the sports tourism sector. Within just two years of our government taking office, we are undertaking various programs and constructing stadiums and sports infrastructure. We will certainly attract many major global events," he added.
Valuable Exposure for Indian Athletes
Senior Vice-President of the Athletics Federation of India, Anju Bobby George, said the World Athletics Continental Tour-Silver 2026 provided Indian athletes with valuable exposure to high-level competition on home soil in an important year featuring the Commonwealth Games and upcoming Asian Games. "This is an important year for athletes because we had the Commonwealth Games and now we are heading for the Asian Games. Our athletes got to experience good competition on their own soil with elite athletes," she said.
Indian Athletes Shine on Home Soil
At the event, Indian athletes Rohit Yadav and Murali Sreeshankar clinched the men's javelin throw and long jump titles, respectively. Rohit registered a personal best of 87.68m with his final attempt, improving his previous best of 87.05m and recording the fourth-best throw in the world this season. Yash Vir Singh finished second with 82.94m.
Sreeshankar won the long jump with an 8.07m effort, edging South Africa's Divan Manuel (8.03m), while David Solomon finished third with 7.78m.
India also enjoyed strong performances in the women's events, with Ancy Sojan leading an Indian sweep in the long jump at 6.71m, ahead of Shaili Singh and Mubassina Mohammed. Teenager Abinaya Rajarajan won the women's 100m in 11.34 seconds and reclaimed the Indian U20 national record. (ANI)