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210 Young Athletes Gear Up for Dec 19 NJAC Grand Finale at Sardar Patel Stadium
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Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, November 29th 2025 at 3:54 GMT by The Hans India- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Young Athletes Gear Up for Grand Finale on December 19
The 2024 edition of India’s premier youth sporting event is fast approaching its climactic finale, set for December 19. The final day will bring together some of the nation’s most promising teenagers from across 28 states and Union Territories to compete in a dazzling showcase of speed, strength, and skill. The Hans India coverage, coupled with links to the event’s official pages and related federation sites, paints a vivid picture of the excitement, preparation, and significance of this grand finale.
The Event in Context
The competition is the National Junior Athletics Championships (NJAC), an annual event that forms part of the larger National Youth Games series. The championships are organized by the Indian Athletics Federation (IAF) under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the 2024 edition marks the 16th anniversary of the junior championships.
While the junior championships have traditionally been a single‑day affair, the 2024 schedule has been expanded to a multi‑day competition, culminating in the grand finale on December 19 at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. The venue, a 35,000‑seater track and field complex that hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has been renovated to accommodate the influx of athletes, officials, and media.
Athletes and Training Regimes
The athletes who will compete range in age from 14 to 18, with a focus on the 16‑18 bracket for the main events. 27 state teams have registered, each bringing a contingent of 12–15 athletes. According to the article, a total of 210 athletes are slated to compete in the finals, covering 11 disciplines: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 400m hurdles, high‑jump, long‑jump, triple‑jump, javelin, and shot‑put.
Training camps have been held across the country, with the Indian Institute of Sport Sciences (IISS) in Hyderabad and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Patna hosting the bulk of the preparation. Coaches have highlighted a blend of “high‑volume, low‑intensity” workouts and sport‑specific skill drills. The IISS has incorporated biometric monitoring to fine‑tune athletes’ performance, an initiative that the Hans India piece links to the IAF’s new Performance Enhancement Programme.
One of the standout athletes, 17‑year‑old sprinter Arun Kumar from Odisha, won the state’s 100m title last month. In an interview, he said, “We’ve trained for 8 months, focusing on sprint mechanics and reaction time. The finals are the ultimate test, and we’re ready.”
Key Highlights of the Final Day
Event Structure
The final day will feature a “champion’s bracket” format for each discipline. Preliminary heats will filter athletes into semi‑finals, which then advance to finals that determine gold, silver, and bronze medals. The IAF has introduced a new “Points System” that rewards performances across multiple events, giving athletes the chance to win an overall champion title.
Media Coverage
Doordarshan and ESPN India will broadcast live coverage, as noted in the article. The IAF’s official YouTube channel will host a “Live Commentary” stream featuring former athletes turned pundits. This multi‑platform coverage aims to increase visibility for the sport and inspire a new generation of runners.
Award Ceremonies
The article details the award ceremonies that will take place at the stadium’s podium. The Sports Minister will present medals, while a National Sports Academy representative will award a “Youth Sports Excellence” trophy to the best overall performer. The “Grand Finale” will also host a cultural segment featuring traditional music and dance from the participating states.
Significance and Impact
The NJAC finals are more than a medal‑tally. They serve as a critical selection pathway for international competitions such as the Asian Junior Athletics Championships and the World Athletics U20 Championships. As the Hans India piece underscores, “The performance of these athletes in Ahmedabad could shape India’s representation on the global stage in the coming years.”
Furthermore, the championships aim to strengthen grassroots development. The IAF’s “Community Coaching Initiative”, linked in the article, has already seen an increase in local coaching clinics, especially in rural districts where participation was previously low.
Voices from the Field
The article features a concise but powerful quote from Ms. Rani Sharma, the head coach of the Delhi team: “The athletes have shown incredible resilience and focus. The final day will test their mental fortitude as much as their physical ability.”
Coaches from various states echo similar sentiments, citing the importance of mental conditioning. The IAF has partnered with sports psychologists to conduct “mind‑set” workshops over the past two weeks, a detail that is highlighted in the article’s sidebar.
Final Thoughts
The grand finale of the National Junior Athletics Championships on December 19 is poised to be a landmark event for India’s young sports talent. With robust training regimens, advanced analytics, and extensive media coverage, the stage is set for a day of record‑breaking performances and inspiring stories.
For more detailed insights, the article provides direct links to the IAF’s official page, the National Youth Games archive, and the Sports Authority of India training schedules. These resources offer deeper context on the event’s organization, athlete preparation, and the broader sports ecosystem in which this grand finale takes place.
In short, the 2024 NJAC final is not just the end of a competition—it is a stepping stone for the next generation of Indian athletes to shine on the world stage.
Read the Full The Hans India Article at:
[ https://www.thehansindia.com/sports/young-athletes-gear-up-for-grand-finale-on-dec19-1027209 ]
