The 64th National Open Athletics Championships 2025 in Ranchi witnessed outstanding performances as Manikanta Hoblidhar shattered the 100m meet record and Rajesh Ramesh claimed the 400m title with impressive timing. Despite challenging weather conditions at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Indian athletes delivered exceptional results that highlighted the growing strength of the country’s sprint events.
Hoblidhar Storms to 100m Glory with Meet Record
Manikanta Hoblidhar produced a spectacular performance to win the men’s 100m title with a personal best time of 10.19 seconds, despite racing on a wet track. The 23-year-old athlete rewrote his own meet record of 10.23 seconds, which he had set during the 2023 National Open Athletics Championships. His winning time was just 0.01 seconds away from the national record of 10.18 seconds held by Animesh Kujur, making him only the second Indian to break the 10.20-second barrier.
Pranav Gurav secured the silver medal with a time of 10.31 seconds, while Harsh Raut claimed bronze in 10.38 seconds. Former national record holder Amlan Borgohain finished fifth with a time of 10.43 seconds. Hoblidhar’s performance was particularly impressive considering the difficult conditions, as he had targeted a time of 10.10 seconds but acknowledged that the wet track affected his rhythm.
Ramesh Powers to 400m Victory with Season Best
Asian Games relay gold medallist Rajesh Ramesh dominated the men’s 400m event, finishing first with a season-best time of 45.75 seconds. The 25-year-old Tamil Nadu athlete executed a perfectly judged race, surging strongly in the opening 200 meters before maintaining his form down the home straight. This victory marked his third sub-46 second performance of 2025, reinforcing his status as one of India’s most consistent quarter-milers.
Santhosh T claimed the silver medal with a personal season best of 46.05 seconds, while Rashid secured bronze after slashing his personal best from 46.99 to 46.23 seconds. Ramesh’s time was still shy of his personal best of 45.54 seconds, which he achieved earlier in the year. His consistent sub-46 performances throughout 2025 have positioned him as the second-fastest Indian this year, behind only Vishal TK.
Championships Showcase Depth in Indian Sprinting
The National Open Athletics Championships, organized by the Athletics Federation of India, demonstrated the impressive depth in Indian sprinting across multiple events. In the women’s 100m final, Sneha SS crossed the finish line first in 11.62 seconds, followed by Sudeshna Shivankar (11.64s) and Abinaya Rajarajan (11.67s). The women’s 400m saw Neeru Pathak claim gold with a time of 52.85 seconds.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
- Who is Rajesh Ramesh?
Rajesh Ramesh is an Indian track and field athlete born in 1999. He specializes in the 400 meters and 4×400 meters relay. He has won medals in Asian Games and competed in World Athletics Championships, setting an Asian record in relay.
- Rajesh Ramesh won the gold medal for which event?
Rajesh Ramesh won the gold medal in the men’s 400 meters event at the National Open Athletics Championships 2025 with a season-best time of 45.75 seconds, showcasing his strong sprinting ability in this quarter-mile race.
- What is the record Rajesh Ramesh set in the National Open Athletics Championship 2025?
At the National Open Athletics Championships 2025, Rajesh Ramesh set a season-best timing of 45.75 seconds in the men’s 400 meters, marking one of his best performances in the event during the 2025 season.
