Indian Athletics Series Final Offers ₹1 Lakh Winners' Prize, Neeraj Chopra Set for Delhi Showdown

The Indian Athletics Series Final is set to raise the stakes for domestic athletics, with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announcing attractive prize money for all podium finishers and the possibility of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra competing in the prestigious one-day event in New Delhi on September 10.

The competition, to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will feature 31 track and field events, including 16 women's events, bringing together the country's top performers in what is expected to be the final major competition before the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, beginning on September 19.

Under the prize structure, winners in each event will receive ₹1 lakh, while second-place finishers will earn ₹50,000. Athletes finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth will take home ₹25,000, ₹20,000, ₹15,000 and ₹10,000, respectively, making it one of the most rewarding domestic athletics competitions in recent years.

According to AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo, invitations have already been sent to eligible athletes, with August 10 fixed as the deadline to confirm participation. The competition will primarily feature the top eight ranked athletes in each discipline based on their performances this season, while the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase events will allow the top 12 athletes to compete. If any qualified athlete withdraws, reserve athletes will be invited in ranking order.

All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra, who is currently ranked second in the men's javelin standings after his 85.69m throw at the Doha Diamond League. He trails Rohit Yadav, who tops the rankings with an 87.05m effort recorded at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar.

Several of India's leading athletes also enter the finale as top-ranked competitors, including Gurindervir Singh (100m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Vishal TK (400m), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (high jump), and Murali Sreeshankar (long jump). In the women's events, Vithya Ramraj, Pooja, Praul Chaudhary, Jyoti Yarraji, Pooja Singh, and Ancy Sojan headline their respective disciplines.

With significant prize money, elite competition and final preparations for the Asian Games, the Indian Athletics Series Final promises to be one of the most anticipated domestic athletics events of the year.