Delhi Set to Host India's Asian Games Stars in Final Tune Up on September 10

India's leading track and field athletes preparing for the 2026 Asian Games will compete together in the final leg of the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi on September 10 , making it one of the country's most significant domestic athletics events before the continental showpiece.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced that the competition, originally scheduled for September 12 , has been advanced by two days. The meet will serve as the final competitive outing for athletes expected to represent India at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , which will be held from September 19 to October 4 .

Although the Indian athletics squad for the Asian Games is yet to be officially announced, the federation has confirmed that all athletes selected for the Games will participate in the Delhi event. AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said the country's Asian Games-bound athletes will use the competition as their final preparation before leaving for Japan.

Unlike the earlier legs of the series, participation in the Delhi meet will be strictly by invitation , with athletes selected based on their rankings in their respective events. This is expected to ensure a highly competitive field featuring India's finest performers across track and field disciplines.

The federation has also revised the schedule of the remaining legs of the Indian Athletics Series , while retaining the original venues. The 13th leg will now be held on August 18 instead of August 14, the 14th leg has been moved to August 25 from August 16, and the 15th leg will take place on September 2 instead of August 29.

India's primary selection event for the Asian Games was the 65th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships , held in Bhubaneswar from June 24 to 28 , where several athletes secured qualification standards and strengthened their claims for national selection.

Meanwhile, preparations for another major international event are also gathering pace. A group of Indian athletes departed for Europe on Saturday to fine tune their performances ahead of the Commonwealth Games , scheduled to begin on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland . The second batch of athletes is expected to leave early next week.

With both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games approaching, Indian athletics is entering a crucial phase, and the Delhi meet promises to be the country's final high intensity test before its stars take on the continent's best.