March 26, 2026 - Page 2 of 2

Bhubaneswar: Punjab’s 26-year-old international sprinter Gurvindervir Singh won the men’s 60m title on the final day of the first National Indoor Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday.

He showed strong composure in a disrupted final. The race featured only five athletes after three false starts. Gurvindervir Singh reacted sharply at the start and finished in 6.60 seconds to clinch gold, according to the Athletics Federation of India.

His timing surpassed the previous national indoor 60m record of 6.67 seconds set by VK Elakkiadasan in 2022. He said it marked a positive start to the 2026 season and expressed hope to maintain his form in outdoor events. He represented Reliance Industries in the competition.

The men’s 60m final saw multiple disqualifications due to false starts. National outdoor champion Animesh Kujur was among those disqualified. Dondapti Mrutyam Jayaram of Odisha and Nehal Sagar of Karnataka were also disqualified.

In the women’s 60m event, Maharashtra’s 22-year-old Harita Bhandra secured the title. She clocked 7.32 seconds to finish first.

Results: Men: 400m: Mohammed Sinan (Reliance) 48.27 seconds, Muhammed Badusha (BSF) 49.83 seconds, Aryan Ekka (Odisha) 49.86 seconds.

Men: 1500m: Vinod Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 3:46.13 seconds, Jagdish (Air Force) 3:50.11 seconds, Sunil Yadav (Rajasthan) 3:50.56 seconds.

Men: Triple jump: Vimal Mukesh (Navy) 15.41m, Robinson S (Tamil Nadu) 14.67m, Naresh Rohidas (Odisha) 13.92m.

Men: Pole vault: Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Rambeer Singh (Army) 4.85m, Bineesh Jacob (Railway) 4.55m.

Men: High jump: Swadhin Kumar Majhi (Odisha) 2.18m, Sarvesh Anil Kushare (Maharashtra) 2.15m, Dhairyshil D (Maharashtra) 2.15m.

Women: 60m: Harita Bhandra (Maharashtra) 7.32 seconds, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 7.46 seconds, Trisha Nair (Maharashtra) 7.62 seconds.

Women: 400m: Kumari Saloni Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) 55.73 seconds, Sukhi Baskey (Odisha) 55.67 seconds, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 56.45 seconds.

Women: 1500m: Priyanka C (Karnataka) 4:34.31 seconds.

Women: Triple Jump: Mallala Anusha (JSW) 13.20m, Nimisha Dayma (JSW) 12.93m, Bhairabi Roy (West Bengal) 12.81m.

Women: High jump: Payal Jamod (Gujrat) 1.71m, Kevinna Ashwine (Tamil Nadu) 1.71m, Pramilla Rajgar (West Bengal) 1.68m.

New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday emphasised that India remains focused on strengthening its economic engagement despite global challenges, including ongoing conflicts impacting trade and logistics.

He was speaking at the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) announcement for FY 2026-27 and the scholarship distribution launch by the Malabar Charitable Trust in New Delhi.

Goyal said India has signed nine free trade agreements with 38 developed nations in recent years, expanding access to major global markets.

He stated that these agreements provide preferential market access to nearly two-thirds of global trade. The minister stressed that Indian industry, farmers, MSMEs, and artisans must focus on quality to fully utilise these opportunities.

Goyal also said the agreements have opened global markets for Indian goods and services at reduced or zero duty. He added that this has strengthened the competitiveness of Indian exporters. He noted that MSMEs, farmers, fishermen, and artisans can gain significantly if they maintain high standards in production and services.

Goyal praised the allocation of 5% of net profits towards corporate social responsibility, calling it a step beyond statutory norms. He said such commitment reflects a strong sense of responsibility and can inspire other organisations to follow similar practices.

He observed that charity is deeply rooted in Indian society, where people across sections come forward to help those in need. He added that while CSR laws have improved participation, efforts beyond mandatory limits show genuine intent, according to an official statement.

Highlighting the initiative, the minister said such actions demonstrate that organisations can voluntarily exceed prescribed norms and contribute meaningfully. He stressed the importance of delivering tangible results rather than making future commitments.

Goyal emphasised women-led development, recalling that B. R. Ambedkar had highlighted that communities progress when women prosper. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts have focused on education and empowerment of girls to strengthen national development.

He said the government remains committed to inclusive growth by ensuring access to food, housing, healthcare, education, electricity, water and digital connectivity. He added that these efforts aim to enable every citizen to contribute to a developed India.

Calling for collective participation, Goyal urged stakeholders to see citizens as partners in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He referred to the unity shown during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the need to maintain that spirit.

He noted that despite global challenges affecting trade and logistics, India continues to strengthen its economic engagement.

The minister also highlighted the importance of skilling, language training, and quality education to enhance global opportunities for youth. He said initiatives supporting education, nutrition, and welfare play a key role in development.

He expressed confidence that such efforts will expand opportunities and drive broader participation in social development. He extended his best wishes for the initiative and for 33,000 children set to receive benefits and scholarships under the programme.