Over 400 athletes to converge in Ludhiana for two-day tournament

Ludhiana: The Punjab Athletic Association is set to organise the 101st Senior Athletic Championship at the Guru Nanak Stadium on June 4 and June 5. Organising officials have confirmed that preparations for the two-day event are almost complete.

The championship expects a turnout of over 400 male and female athletes over the age of 20 from various districts across the state. The competition will feature both national and international-level competitors across different sports disciplines, each paying an entry fee of Rs 550 to participate.

Event schedule and disciplines

Scheduled to run from 5.30 am to 7 pm on both days, the championship will host an array of events. These include the high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, hammer throw, discus throw, javelin throw, hurdles, and the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1,500m races. The association will award prizes, medals, and certificates to the winners during a dedicated prize distribution ceremony.

Sanjeev Sharma, athletic coach and technical manager, highlighted the high stakes of the meet, noting its potential to serve as a stepping stone for higher-level competitions.

“We are expecting the event to have a great atmosphere with skilled athletes who will perform in their best possible conditions. The players who participate in the event may also qualify for the upcoming senior national state championship,” Sharma said.

The tournament is a collaborative effort between various sports bodies, local coaches, and veteran sportspersons.

Prem Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Athletic Association, said, “The event is being organised by the joint efforts of SS Atwal, president of the association, sports department of Ludhiana, coaches, and Dronacharya awardee players like Sukhdev Singh Pannu. We appeal to the residents of Ludhiana to visit the stadium during the event to see the great performance by the athletes from different sports disciplines and boost their confidence in their future performances.”