The Indian Athletics Series 2 (IAS 2) 2026 is scheduled for April 5, 2026, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. It is the second leg of the 16-part Indian Athletics Series, a brand-new circuit introduced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to replace the old Grand Prix format.
The series runs from April to September 2026 and is designed to give emerging athletes across India a structured, competitive platform.
Whether you are an athlete looking to compete, a coach tracking schedules, or a fan following the action, this guide covers everything about IAS 2 and the broader series.
What Is the Indian Athletics Series 2026?
The Indian Athletics Series (IAS) is a new 16-leg domestic circuit introduced by AFI for the 2026 season. It replaces the old Grand Prix system with a more geographically spread model.
According to AFI’s official 2026 competition calendar, the IAS runs from April to September 2026 across multiple states nationwide. Notably, junior events are also included in select legs, giving Under-20 athletes competitive exposure they previously lacked.
AFI Competition Director Ravinder Chaudhry described the purpose clearly: the IAS gives athletes on the fringes of national selection a chance to compete at a higher level with relaxed minimum entry standards compared to the National Championships. Think of it as a wide net designed to catch talent that might otherwise slip through the cracks.
As part of AFI’s broader push, the overall 2026 domestic competition calendar has expanded from 32 to 40 events, a 25% increase, according to IndiaSportsHub. The IAS is the centrepiece of this expansion.
Indian Athletics Series 2: Date, Venue, and Key Details
Here are the quick facts about IAS 2 in Udaipur:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Indian Athletics Series 2 (IAS 2) |
| Date | April 5, 2026 |
| Venue | Udaipur, Rajasthan |
| Organiser | Athletics Federation of India (AFI) |
| Series Leg | Leg 2 of 16 |
| IAS 1 (Previous Leg) | April 4, 2026 – Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| IAS 3 (Next Leg) | April 11, 2026 – Sangrur, Punjab |
| Official Website | indianathletics. in |
Note: Udaipur is the second consecutive venue in the series’ opening week, following IAS 1 in Bengaluru the day before.
Full Schedule of the Indian Athletics Series 2026 (All 16 Legs)
Because IAS 2 is part of a 16-leg circuit, understanding the full schedule helps athletes plan their participation. Here is the complete IAS 2026 schedule, sourced from the AFI official calendar and ESPN India:
| Leg | Date | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAS 1 | April 4, 2026 | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| IAS 2 | April 5, 2026 | Udaipur | Rajasthan |
| IAS 3 | April 11, 2026 | Sangrur | Punjab |
| IAS 4 | April 12, 2026 | Ranchi | Jharkhand |
| IAS 5 | May 9, 2026 | New Delhi | Delhi |
| IAS 6 | May 10, 2026 | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| IAS 7 | June 6, 2026 | Guwahati | Assam |
| IAS 8 | June 7, 2026 | Pune | Maharashtra |
| IAS 9 | June 13, 2026 | Ludhiana | Punjab |
| IAS 10 | June 14, 2026 | Trivandrum | Kerala |
| IAS 11 | June 20, 2026 | Kolkata | West Bengal |
| IAS 12 | June 21, 2026 | Nadiad | Gujarat |
| IAS 13 | August 14, 2026 | Warangal | Telangana |
| IAS 14 | August 16, 2026 | Panchkula | Haryana |
| IAS 15 | August 29, 2026 | Shillong | Meghalaya |
| IAS 16 (Finals) | September 12, 2026 | New Delhi | Delhi |
Why the Indian Athletics Series Matters More in 2026
This is not just another domestic meet. The 2026 season is India’s most consequential year in athletics in recent memory. Two major multi-sport events are on the horizon:
- Commonwealth Games 2026 – Glasgow, Scotland – July 23 to August 2
- Asian Games 2026 – Aichi-Nagoya, Japan – September 19 to October 4
As a result, every domestic competition in 2026, including the IAS legs, serves as a performance window. According to Olympics.com, national coach P. Radhakrishnan Nair confirmed that athletes will need to compete in multiple events before being considered for either Games.
The IAS legs count as qualifying competitions toward mandatory participation thresholds. Specifically, athletes must appear in at least two AFI-sanctioned events to be eligible for the Federation Cup and at least three events to enter the 65th National Inter-State Senior Championships. Both are confirmed by AFI’s official calendar.
Put simply: if an athlete skips the IAS legs, they risk missing out on the national championships entirely. That is a strong incentive to compete.
IAS 2 and the Road to Commonwealth Games 2026
For athletes serious about representing India at CWG Glasgow 2026, the IAS legs are stepping stones, not optional extras.
The final selection trials for the Commonwealth Games 2026 are the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi (May 22-25). This has been confirmed by AFI. However, athletes must have already competed in enough events to be eligible for that trial’s event.
Furthermore, the AFI has set extremely stringent CWG 2026 qualification standards. According to The Bridge, athletes in 17 events must either match or break existing national records to qualify. The reason: CWG 2026 limits each country to a maximum of 32 athletes, including no more than 16 women.
Key CWG 2026 Qualification Standards for Indian Athletes
| Event | Men’s Mark | Women’s Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 100m | 10.16s | 11.17s |
| 400m | 44.96s | 51.36s |
| 1500m | 3:30.82 | 4:05.09 |
| 5000m | 13:19.64 | 14:56.60 |
| 10,000m | 27:39.03 | 31:14.14 |
| Javelin Throw | 82.61m | – |
| Mixed 4x400m Relay | 3:16.00 | 3:16.00 |
For context, Animesh Kujur currently holds the men’s 100m national record at 10.18s, which falls just 0.02s short of the 10.16s CWG mark. The IAS legs offer the competitive race sharpness needed to close that gap.
In javelin, the IAS gives athletes like Sachin Yadav and Rohit Yadav early-season competition opportunities before the Diamond League circuit intensifies. Even Neeraj Chopra could use domestic meets to tune up, though his schedule will depend on international commitments.
How to Participate in the Indian Athletics Series 2
Eligibility Criteria
The IAS has relaxed minimum entry standards compared to national-level meets, making it more accessible to a wider pool of athletes. Both senior and junior athletes can participate, as AFI has confirmed that junior events will be part of select IAS legs.
State Athletics Associations nominate athletes for the series. Additionally, participation at the State Athletics Championship is compulsory for all athletes looking to enter AFI’s national competition pipeline in 2026, as stated in AFI’s press release dated November 25, 2025.
Registration and Entry Process
Athlete registrations for IAS legs are handled through the AFI’s official athlete registration system. Athletes must be registered members of their respective State Athletics Association, which must be affiliated with AFI.
- Register with your State Athletics Association first
- State unit submits entries to AFI before the circular deadline
- Follow AFI Circular No. 29 specifically for IAS 2 (available at indianathletics.in/circular_category/circular-2026/)
- Ensure your performance meets the minimum entry standard for your chosen event(s)
Athletes registered on AFI’s athlete portal can log in at indianathletics.in for circular updates, entry deadlines, and competition schedules.
How the Indian Athletics Series Format Works
The IAS is structured as a circuit model. Legs 1 through 15 are qualifying events, while IAS 16 – the Finals – takes place in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, and will be an invitation-only event for top performers across the season.
Think of it like a domestic version of the Diamond League: you accumulate results across legs, and the best athletes earn a spot at the finals. The system rewards consistent performance over the season rather than peaking at a single championship.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Legs | 16 (Legs 1-15 open + Leg 16 Finals by invitation) |
| Duration | April to September 2026 |
| Coverage | Pan-India across 14 states |
| Finals Venue | New Delhi, September 12, 2026 |
| Categories | Senior + Junior (select legs) |
| Entry Standard | Relaxed compared to the national championships |
| Replaces | Old Grand Prix Series |
Why Udaipur? The Significance of IAS 2’s Venue
Hosting IAS 2 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, is notable because Rajasthan has not historically been a major hub for track and field in India. The state sits between Punjab/Haryana (sprint and field strongholds) and Maharashtra (distance running country).
Bringing the series to Udaipur aligns with the IAS’s stated purpose of geographic distribution. As IndiaSportsHub reports, the IAS is designed to reduce travel strain on regional athletes and enable more frequent competition without disrupting training. Importantly, athletes from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat get a local window to compete at an AFI-sanctioned event without the expense of travelling to Bengaluru, Delhi, or Bhubaneswar.
The April 5 date is also well-timed. It sits right after IAS 1 in Bengaluru (April 4), creating a back-to-back leg pairing in the opening week of the series. Athletes from western India can base themselves centrally and compete at both meets consecutively.
Where IAS 2 Sits in India’s 2026 Athletics Calendar
By the time IAS 2 arrives on April 5, several key events will have already taken place in the 2026 season:
- January 24: 60th National Cross Country Championships, Ranchi
- February 21-22: 13th Indian Open Race-Walking Competition, Chandigarh
- March 7-8: 5th Indian Open Throws Competition, Patiala
- March 14-15: 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition, Bengaluru
- March 24-25: 1st National Indoor Athletics Championships, Bhubaneswar
- March 28: 3rd National Open Relay Competition, Chandigarh
- April 4: IAS 1, Bengaluru – the leg immediately preceding IAS 2
This means athletes arriving at IAS 2 in Udaipur could already have one or two competitions under their belt. That is exactly the kind of early-season competitive rhythm AFI is trying to build before the Federation Cup, Inter-State Championships, and ultimately the global Games.
Athletes to Watch Across the Indian Athletics Series 2026
IAS 2 is primarily a platform for emerging and fringe athletes, but several established names are expected to use the circuit for early-season tuning.
Sprints (100m / 200m / 400m)
Animesh Kujur holds India’s current men’s 100m national record at 10.18s. However, the CWG 2026 qualification mark of 10.16s means he needs the sharp race competition that IAS legs provide. Also watch out for Dutee Chand in the women’s sprints and up-and-coming 400m runners targeting the mixed relay pool for the Asian Games.
Javelin Throw
India’s greatest individual athletics story continues in 2026. Neeraj Chopra has an 82.61m CWG qualification mark to navigate, and while he will likely target Diamond League events, Sachin Yadav and Rohit Yadav have both crossed that distance previously, as confirmed by AFI via newkerala.com. IAS legs give them competitive throws before the season heats up.
Pole Vault
One of India’s standout performers in 2026 is Baranica Elangovan, who cleared 4.22m to enter the record books, as reported by AFI’s official site. The IAS format, which includes AFI’s new Indoor Combined Events and Pole Vault Open on May 2-3 in Bhubaneswar, provides a supportive domestic circuit for technical-event athletes like her.
Distance Running
Indian distance runners targeting the CWG 2026 marathon, 5000m, and 10,000m events will use IAS legs to meet the mandated competition appearances. The women’s 5000m mark of 14:56.60 and the men’s 10,000m mark of 27:39.03 are demanding benchmarks that require consistent competitive racing.
The Bigger Picture: What the Indian Athletics Series Means for Indian Athletics
The IAS is not just a scheduling change. It represents a fundamental shift in how AFI thinks about athlete development. The old Grand Prix model was elite-first. The IAS is funnel-first: bring in a wider pool, create more competitive exposure, and let quality rise naturally through the structure.
According to IndiaSportsHub, the 2026 calendar creates an integrated performance ecosystem. The IAS legs connect regional talent to the national pipeline. The national pipeline connects to the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. The Games build India’s global athletics profile.
Also worth noting: Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium gets a major upgrade this year, hosting India’s maiden World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet in August, up from Bronze last year. This gives India more opportunities to earn ranking points that count toward World Athletics global standings.
At CWG Birmingham 2022, India won 8 athletics medals (one gold, four silver, three bronze) out of 61 total medals, according to Olympics.com. The 2026 setup is built to improve on that, with a structured domestic season as the foundation.
Where can I get official information about IAS 2?
Visit the AFI official website at indianathletics.in or check AFI Circular No. 29 for IAS 2 for the latest schedule, entry standards, and registration details.
Indian Athletics Series 2 in Udaipur Starts on 5th April 2026
The Indian Athletics Series 2 in Udaipur on April 5, 2026, is far more than a routine domestic meet. It is leg two of a new 16-part circuit that is fundamentally changing how Indian athletics works from the grassroots up. Moreover, it is a critical piece in the road to CWG Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Whether you are an athlete using it to build mandatory appearances, a coach tracking competition fitness, or a fan following India’s next wave of track-and-field talent, the IAS in 2026 is worth paying close attention to. The finals are in New Delhi on September 12, and the journey starts now.
