The 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition 2026, organised by the Anju Bobby High Performance Centre under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), is set to take place on 14th and 15th March 2026 at the Anju Bobby High Performance Centre in Bangalore, Karnataka.
The event forms a key part of the AFI National Competition Calendar 2026 and serves as an important domestic platform for India’s elite jumpers across open and age-group categories.
Over two days, the competition brings together athletes from across the country, representing state associations, armed forces units, sports academies, and private sporting foundations, to compete in the High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Pole Vault.
With 232 registered athletes from over 35 units competing in 20 events, this edition is one of the most expansive gatherings of jumping talent in the Indian domestic athletics calendar.
Event at a Glance
| Event | 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition 2026 |
| Organiser | Anju Bobby High Performance Centre |
| Sanctioning Body | Athletics Federation of India (AFI) |
| Dates | 14th & 15th March 2026 |
| Venue | Anju Bobby High Performance Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Total Events | 20 (Across Open, Under-20, and Under-18 categories) |
| Total Registered Athletes | 232 athletes from 35+ units |
| Disciplines | High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault |
Competition Schedule For Day 1: 14th March 2026
The table below shows the Schedule for Day 1.
Morning Session
| Event No | Time | Event | Section | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 08:00 hrs | Long Jump | Men Open | Qualifying Round Group 1 |
| 102 | 08:20 hrs | High Jump | Men Under 20 | Final |
| 103 | 08:20 hrs | High Jump | Men Under 18 | Final |
| 104 | 08:30 hrs | Pole Vault | Women Under 20 | Final |
| 105 | 09:10 hrs | Long Jump | Men Open | Qualifying Round Group 2 |
| 106 | 10:30 hrs | Triple Jump | Women Under 20 | Final |
| 107 | 13:30 hrs | Pole Vault | Men Open | Final |
| 108 | 15:00 hrs | Triple Jump | Men Under 20 | Final |
| 109 | 15:15 hrs | High Jump | Men Open | Final |
| 110 | 16:30 hrs | Triple Jump | Men Open | Final |
| 111 | 18:25 hrs | Triple Jump | Women Open | Final |
Note: Medal ceremonies are held on the same evening after the completion of respective finals.
Competition Schedule For Day 2: 15th March 2026
The table below shows the Schedule for Day 2.
Morning & Afternoon Sessions
| Event No | Time | Event | Section | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 07:30 hrs | Long Jump | Men Under 18 | Final |
| 202 | 08:00 hrs | Pole Vault | Men Under 20 | Final |
| 203 | 08:15 hrs | High Jump | Women Under 18 | Final |
| 204 | 09:30 hrs | Long Jump | Women Under 20 | Final |
| 205 | 09:30 hrs | Long Jump | Women Under 18 | Final |
| 206 | 13:30 hrs | Pole Vault | Women Open | Final |
| 207 | 15:00 hrs | Long Jump | Men Under 20 | Final |
| 208 | 15:30 hrs | High Jump | Women Under 20 | Final |
| 209 | 15:30 hrs | High Jump | Women Open | Final |
| 210 | 17:00 hrs | Long Jump | Women Open | Final |
| 211 | 18:30 hrs | Long Jump | Men Open | Final |
Note: Medal ceremonies conclude by 19:45 hrs on Day 2 with the Men’s Open Long Jump ceremony.
Current National Records: Reference Benchmarks
The event-wise bib list published by the AFI lists the current national records for each discipline. These serve as the benchmark targets for competing athletes. A number of these records were themselves set at editions of the Indian Open Jumps Competition or at AFI-organised events.
| Event | Category | Record Holder | Mark | Venue / Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Jump | Men Open | Tejaswin Shankar | 2.29m | Lubbock, 27 Apr 2018 |
| Long Jump | Men Open | Jeswin Aldrin | 8.42m | Bellary, 02 Mar 2023 |
| Triple Jump | Men Open | Praveen Chithravel | 17.37m | Havana, 06 May 2023 |
| Pole Vault | Men Open | D. Meena | 5.40m | Bochum-Wattenscheid, 25 Jul 2025 |
| High Jump | Women Open | Sahana Kumari | 1.92m | Hyderabad, 23 Jun 2012 |
| Long Jump | Women Open | Anju B George | 6.83m | Athens, 27 Aug 2004 |
| Triple Jump | Women Open | Mayookha Johny | 14.11m | Kobe, 09 Jul 2011 |
| Pole Vault | Women Open | Rosy Meena Paulraj | 4.21m | Bengaluru, 15 Oct 2022 |
Background & Significance
- Indian Open Jumps Competition is an annual specialised athletics meet focused entirely on jumping events: High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Pole Vault.
- The event is organised by the Anju Bobby High Performance Centre, named after legendary Indian long jumper Anju Bobby George.
- Since its inaugural edition, the competition has steadily grown and now attracts India’s top jumpers as well as emerging age-group athletes.
- It serves as an important competitive platform for athletes who are preparing for international qualification campaigns.
- Performances at the meet can contribute to rankings and selection considerations for major global events such as the World Athletics Championships.
- The 2026 edition comes at a key time, with several senior Indian jumpers returning to competition and building form for the upcoming international season.
- The event is officially included in the 2026 National Competition Calendar of the Athletics Federation of India.
- It is held at the Anju Bobby High Performance Centre, a leading training facility that has produced multiple internationally recognised Indian athletes.
Competition Structure
The competition is structured across 20 events covering men’s and women’s disciplines in two age categories:
| Category / Age Group | Events Included | Competition Schedule Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Open (Senior) | High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault | Key finals include Senior Open Triple Jump and High Jump on Day 1; Senior Men’s Long Jump Final takes place in the evening on Day 2 |
| Under-20 | High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault | Events spread across both days alongside the senior competitions |
| Under-18 | High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault | Conducted across both competition days with age-group participation |
Event Format Overview
| Day | Focus | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Primarily field events | Senior Open Triple Jump and High Jump finals |
| Day 2 | Continuation of jump events | Senior Men’s Long Jump Final in the evening |
Men’s Events
| Category | Event | Level | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | High Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | As per the event schedule |
| Men | Long Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | Senior Men’s Long Jump Final – 18:30 hrs, Day 2 (15 March) |
| Men | Triple Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | As per the event schedule |
| Men | Pole Vault | Open, U-20, U-18 | As per the event schedule |
Women’s Events
| Category | Event | Level | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | High Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | As per the event schedule |
| Women | Long Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | Women’s Open Long Jump Final – 17:00 hrs, Day 2 (15 March) |
| Women | Triple Jump | Open, U-20, U-18 | As per the event schedule |
| Women | Pole Vault | Open, U-20, U-18 | Women’s Open Pole Vault Final – 13:30 hrs, Day 2 (15 March) |
Participating Units & Team Composition
The 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition features athletes from 35 units spanning state associations, central government sports bodies, defence forces, and private sports organisations. Tamil Nadu leads the charge with 42 registered athletes — the largest contingent from any single unit — while Haryana (15), Maharashtra (12), and Rajasthan (12) are also well-represented. Karnataka fields 20 athletes as the host state.
Notable institutional participants include Anju Bobby Sports Foundation (8 athletes, predominantly in women’s jump events), JSW (11 athletes, including prominent senior names), Reliance (featuring Sreeshankar), NCOE Bangalore, and NCOE Trivandrum. Defence units, including the Air Force, Army, Navy, BSF, CISF, and Railway Sports, are also fielding athletes across multiple categories.
Age-Group Competition: The Future of Indian Jumping
Beyond the senior Open events, a significant portion of the competition is dedicated to Under-20 and Under-18 athletes. The age-group programme offers a window into the next generation of Indian jumping talent, featuring 20 events across all four disciplines and both genders.
The Men’s Under-20 Long Jump Final (Day 2, 15:00 hrs) features 20 athletes, including entries from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and several others, a deeply competitive field for the age group. The Men’s Under-18 Long Jump, scheduled for the early-morning session on Day 2 (07:30 hrs), includes 18 athletes from nine states and units, spotlighting young talent from Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh, among others.
On the women’s side, the Under-20 Pole Vault Final features five athletes, including Tanishka Dayma and Shruti Rathaur from Madhya Pradesh, with the current national record of 3.90m set by Vanshika Ghanghas, who is also listed in the Senior Women’s Pole Vault Final at this competition. The Under-20 Long Jump Final for women features six athletes from Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Venue: Anju Bobby High Performance Centre, Bangalore
The Anju Bobby High Performance Centre (ABHPC) in Bangalore is one of India’s premier athletics training facilities, bearing the name of Anju Bobby George, India’s most celebrated women’s long jumper and a World Athletics Championships bronze medallist in 2003. The centre has been central to developing high-performance jumpers and is the regular host venue for this annual jumps competition.
Bangalore’s year-round temperate climate and altitude make it a preferred training and competition destination for Indian track and field athletes. The facility provides athletes with world-class infrastructure, technical support, and a competitive environment that mirrors international standards.
Broader Context: Indian Athletics in 2026
The 2026 season arrives with significant milestones on the horizon. The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, making every domestic performance this season a statement of intent.
Athletes like Praveen Chithravel have publicly stated their ambition to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, having narrowly missed medals in previous editions. The World Athletics Championships later in the year and the Asian Championships are also key targets.
For Sreeshankar, 2026 represents a full competitive season after returning from knee surgery, an opportunity to rediscover the form that made him India’s premier long jumper and push beyond his personal best of 8.41m. The Indian Open Jumps Competition is one of the first major domestic tests of the new season and an important early data point for selectors and athletes alike.
The AFI has structured its 2026 calendar to build progressively toward these international targets, and events like this competition serve as the foundation on which athletes establish their credentials, rhythm, and readiness for the global stage.
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Conclusion: The 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition 2026 Will Take Place On 14th And 15th March 2026
The 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition 2026 promises to be a compelling showcase of India’s jumping talent, with world-class athletes like Murali Sreeshankar and Praveen Chithravel headlining a packed two-day programme.
With 232 athletes, 20 events, and a new generation of Under-18 and Under-20 competitors pushing for recognition, the Bangalore meet sets the tone for India’s 2026 athletics season, one that builds toward the Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, and the World Athletics Championships.
FAQs
The Indian national record in the triple jump is held by Praveen Chithravel, who jumped 17.37 meters in 2023. The world record belongs to Jonathan Edwards, with an incredible 18.29 meters set in 1995.
Tejaswin Shankar is widely regarded as the best high jumper in India. He holds the Indian national record of 2.29 meters, won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, and has also excelled in the decathlon. In women’s high jump, the national record is held by Sahana Kumari.
The Indian national record in the long jump is held by Jeswin Aldrin with a remarkable 8.42-meter jump, showcasing exceptional speed and power during his run-up and takeoff.
Javier Sotomayor is the only athlete in history to clear eight feet in the high jump. He holds the world record of 2.45 meters (8 ft ¼ in), set in 1993.
Milkha Singh set an Indian national record of 45.73 seconds in the 400 meters at the 1960 Summer Olympics, where he finished fourth in the final. This record stood for almost 40 years. Known as the “Flying Sikh,” he also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, becoming one of India’s most legendary athletes.
