BHUBANESWAR: Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar witnessed a memorable evening of international athletics as the city hosted the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver 2026, bringing together leading athletes from India and several other countries.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the prestigious event and witnessed the competition at the iconic stadium. The meet marked an important step in Odisha’s continuing efforts to establish itself as a major destination for international sporting events.

The Silver-level competition featured athletes from more than two dozen countries, including several highly ranked international competitors. The event provided athletes with an opportunity to earn valuable World Athletics ranking points while competing against strong opposition on a global stage.

The competition featured 18 events across men’s and women’s categories. Track events included sprint races, hurdles and middle-distance competitions, while field events featured long jump, high jump, javelin, shot put and discus throw.

One of the biggest highlights for India came in the men’s javelin throw, where Rohit Yadav produced an impressive personal-best performance of 87.68 metres to claim the gold medal. Yashvir Singh finished second with an effort of 82.94 metres, while Arshdeep Singh secured third place with 78.82 metres.

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar also delivered a strong performance, emerging victorious in the men’s long jump. His appearance added considerable interest to the competition, with the Indian star among the leading names in the field.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, India’s national record holder Jyothi Yarraji secured the bronze medal after clocking 13.24 seconds. Charisma Taylor of the Bahamas won the gold medal in 12.96 seconds, while Japan’s Yumi Tanaka took silver with 13.04 seconds. Odisha athlete Pragyan Prasanti Sahu finished fourth in 13.43 seconds.

The men’s 100m event saw South Africa’s Tshepo Jason Tyantini take the top position with a timing of 10.11 seconds. Oman’s Ali Al Balushi finished runner-up in 10.16 seconds, while Sri Lanka’s Dineth Induwara W secured third place in 10.27 seconds. Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur finished sixth with a timing of 10.32 seconds.

India also celebrated success in the women’s 100m, with Abinaya Rajarajan winning gold after clocking 11.34 seconds. Maharashtra’s Harita Bhadra finished second in 11.46 seconds, while Karnataka’s S. Sathyanarayan took bronze in 11.56 seconds.

The successful hosting of the Silver-level Continental Tour meet has further strengthened Bhubaneswar’s reputation as a sporting hub. Kalinga Stadium has already established itself as a venue capable of hosting major national and international competitions.

The event also offered Indian and Odisha athletes a valuable opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd against international opposition. With Odisha continuing to invest in sports infrastructure and major competitions, the Continental Tour meet has added another significant chapter to the state’s growing sporting legacy.

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