Athletics: List of Indian national record holders

India has been striving for an Olympic medal in athletics since independence in 1947. A few stars have come close with Milkha Singh (Rome, 1960) and PT Usha (Los Angeles, 1984) going agonizingly close.

But the dream is yet to be a reality.

For Tokyo 2020, at least ten Indian track and field athletes have booked their spot. The list includes -- KT Irfan (Men's 20km race walking, Individual), Sandeep Kumar (Men's 20km race walking, Individual), Rahul Rohilla (Men's 20km race walking, Individual), Avinash Sable (Men's 3000m Steeplechase, Individual), Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin throw, individual), Shivpal Singh (Men's Javelin throw, individual), Bhawna Jat, (Women's 20km race walking, individual), Priyanka Goswami (Women's 20km race walking, individual), Sreeshankar Murali (Men's Long Jump), 4X400 Mixed RelayTeam -- with a few more in contention at the ongoing Federation Cup.

The Indian athletes have shown promise at national level, over the years, but it has not been enough to earn them a podium spot at the international level.

Let us look at India's national records across major track and field events.

100m

Amiya Kumar Mallick has the 100m record, with a timing of 10.26 which he obtained at the National Federation Cup in April 2016.

In the women's category, Dutee Chand holds the record with a timing of 11.22 seconds, which she achieved at the 59th National Open Championships in 2019.

200m

Muhammed Anas Yahiya has the 200m record as well, after he clocked a time of 20.63 at a meet in Czech Republic back in 2018.

In the women's category, Saraswati Saha holds the record with a timing of 22.82 (+0.8 m/s), which she achieved at the National Circuit Meet in 2002.

400m

Muhammed Anas Yahiya holds the national record in this event, clocking 45.24, at theCena Noveho Mesta nad Metuji meet in 2018.

In the women's category, Hima Das holds the record with a timing of 50.79, which she achieved at the Asian Games in 2018.

800m

Jinson Johnson holds the 800m record, after he clocked 1:45.65 at the National Inter-State Championship in Guwahati, 2018.

In the women's category, Tintu Luka holds the record with a timing of 1:59.17, which she achieved at the Continental Cup in 2010.

1500m

Jinson Johnson has shown his dominance in the 1500 m event as well. He is the current national record holder with timing of 3:37.86 which he obtained at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In the women's category, Sunita Rani holds the record with a timing of 4:06.03, achieved at the Asian Games in 2002.

3000m

Surendra Singh holds the national record in 3000 m with a timing of 7:50.31, which he achieved at Twickenham, United Kingdom in 2008.

In the women's category, Suriya Loganathan holds the record with a timing of 9:04.5, achieved in New Delhi.

5000m

Bahadur Prasad has a long-standing national record in the 5000m event. He clocked 13:29.70 in Birmingham, United Kingdom back in 1992 to set the National Record.

In the women's category. Preeja Sreedharan holds the record with a timing of 15:15.89, achieved at the Asian Games in 2010.

10000m

Surendra Singh set the National Record in 10000 m with a timing of 28:02.89 at the Spanish Olympic Trials in 2008.

In the women's category, Preeja Sreedharan holds the record with a timing of 31:50.47, achieved at the 2010 Asian Games.

110m hurdles

Siddhanth Thingalaya holds the National Record in 110 m hurdles, with a timing of 13.48 (-0.9 m/s), which he achieved at the Altis Invitational event in the United States in 2017.

In the women's category, Anuradha Biswal holds the record, with a timing of 13.38 (+0.4 m/s).

400m hurdles

Ayyasamy Dharun has shown his dominance in the 400 m hurdles event. He broke his previous record with the timing of 48.80 at the 23rd Federation Cup in Patiala. His previous record came at the 2018 Asian Games where he clocked 48.96.

In the women's category, the legendary PT Usha still holds the record with a timing of 55.42, achieved at Los Angeles 1984..

3000m steeplechase

Avinash Sable holds the record in 3000 m steeplechase. He clocked a time of of 8:20.20 at the Federation Cup in Patiala in March 2021 to beat his previous record of 8:21.37 set at the World Championships in Qatar in 2019.

In the women's category, Lalita Babar holds the record with a timing of 9:19.76, achieved at Rio Olympics.

10000m walk

Amit Khatri set the record in 1000 m walk, with timing of 40:40.97, which he achieved at the Junior Federation Cup in Bhopal, 2021.

In the women's category, Gaurav Kumari holds the record with a timing of 45:42.4, achieved at the Police Championships in 2012.

20000m walk

Gurmeet Singh clocked 1:20:22.52 at the 77th All-India Railway Championships, 2012 in Bhubaneshwar to set the national record.

In the women's category, Sapna Punia holds the record with a timing of 1:40:35.70, held at the National Games in 2015.

4 × 100m relay

The Indian team of Rahamatulla Molla, Suresh Sathya, Shameer Mon, A. Qureshi clocked 38.89 at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 to set the National Record.

Meanwhile, the women's team of Merlin Joseph, H.M Jyothi, Srabani Nanda, Dutee Chand hold the record with a timing of 43.32, achieved at the Kazakhastani Championships in 2016.

4 × 400m relay

The Indian men's team comprising Kunhu Muhammed, Muhammed Anas, Ayyasamy Dharun and Arokia Rajiv clocked 3:00.91 at the 3rd Indian Grand Prix in Bangalore to set the national record.

Meanwhile, the women's team comprising Chitra Soman, Rajwinder Kaur, K.M. Beenamol, Manjit Kaur hold the record with the timing of 3:26.89, achieved at Athens 2004.

4 x 400m mixed relay

The team comprising Muhammed Anas, M.R Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv hold the record with a timing of 3:15.17, achieved at the Asian Games in 2018.

10km run

Kashinath Aswale holds the record in 10 km run, with timing of 29:43, achieved in Hyderabad back in 2008.

Meanwhile, Kavita Raut holds the record amongst women, with a timing of 34:32.

Half marathon

Long-distance runner Avinash Sable holds the record in half marathon with the timing of 1:00:30 which he achieved at the Delhi Half Marathon in 2020.

Suriya Loganathan holds the record among women with a timing of 1:10:31.

Marathon

Shivnath Singh set the national record in a marathon, back in 1978 in Jalandhar, with the timing of 2:12:00.

O.P Jaisha holds the record in the women's category with a timing of 2:34:43.

10 km walk

Gurmeet Singh set the record at 10 km walk event, clocking 40:18+, at the Asian Race Walking Championships in Japan in 2016.

Meanwhile, in the women's category, Khushbir Singh holds the record with a timing of 44:42+ achieved at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 2014.

20 km walk

Irfan Kolothum Thodi and Devender Singh hold the joint-record in 20 km walk with a timing of 1:20:21. Thodi achieved the timing at the 2012 Olympics while Devender clocked the identical timing at the Asian Race Walking Championships.

Priyanka Goswami holds the record in the women's category, with timing of 1:28:45, which she achieved at the National Race Walking Championships in 2021. The feat also earned her a spot at Tokyo 2020.

50 km walk

Sandeep Kumar set the National Record in 50 km walk, with timing of 3:55:59.5, at the Indian Racewalking Championships in 2017.

High jump

Tejaswin Shankar set the record with a jump of 2.29 m at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout in April, 2018.

Sahana Kumari holds the record among women with a jump of 1.92 m.

Pole vault

Subramani Siva holds the national record in Pole Vault with a vault of 5.30 m at the 68th Inter-Services Championships in Bangalore, 2018.

Meanwhile, in the women category, V.S Surekha holds the record with a vault of 4.15 m.

Long jump

Sreeshankar Murali holds the national record in the event with a jump of 8.26 m (0.0 m/s), which he achieved on March 16, 2021, at the Federation Cup athletics, a feat that also earned him a ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Anju Bobby George holds the record, among women, with a jump of 6.83 m (+1.2 m/s) achieved at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Triple jump

Renjith Maheswary holds the record in the triple jump, with a timing of 17.30 m (+1.8 m/s), achieved at the 3rd Indian Grand Prix in Bangalore 2016.

Mayookha Johny holds the record among women with a timing of 14.11 m (+0.9 m/s).

Shot put

Tejinder Pal Singh Toor threw 20.92 m at the 59th National Open Championships in Ranchi to set a new national record. In doing so, he also broke his previous record of 20.75 m, achieved at the 2018 Asian Games.

In the women's, Manpreet Kaur holds the record with a throw of 18.86 m, achieved at the Asian Grand Prix in 2017.

Discus throw

Vikas Gowda threw the discuss 66.28 m far to set a national record at the Old Style Discus Challenge in April, 2012.

Kamalpreet Kaur holds the record among women with a throw of 65.06m at the Federation Cup in March 2021 that also saw her qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

Hammer throw

Kamalpreet Singh set the record with a throw of 72.86 m at the Tucson Elite Classic in 2015.

Among the women, Sarita Singh holds the record with a throw of 65.25 m.

Javelin throw

Tokyo-bound Neeraj Chopra, a medal hopeful, is the flag-bearer for javelin throw in India. He recently set a new national record with a throw of 88.07 m at the Indian Grand Prix in Patiala. His previous record was set at 88.06 m during the Asian Games in 2018.

Meanwhile, among the women, Annu Rani recently set the record, throwing her spear 63.24 m at the Federation Cup athletics.