India Team for Asian Cross Country Championships 2026 Announced

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has officially named a 12-member Indian contingent for the 18th Asian Cross Country Championships 2026, scheduled to be held in Fukuoka on February 21, 2026.

India will compete across Senior and Under-20 categories, aiming to make a strong mark in continental distance running.

📍 Asian Cross Country Championships 2026 – Event Details

Event: 18th Asian Cross Country Championships
Date: 21 February 2026
Venue: Fukuoka, Japan
Senior Race Distance: 10km
U20 Race Distance: 8km

The championship is one of Asia’s premier cross-country events, bringing together elite long-distance runners from across the continent.

India Squad – Asian Cross Country Championships 2026

The squad reflects a balance of experience in the senior ranks and promising young talent in the U20 categories.

🏃‍♂️ Senior Men (10km)

Harmanjot Singh (Army)

Harmanjot Singh will spearhead India’s challenge in the senior men’s 10km event.

🏃‍♂️ U20 Men (8km)

Aditya Gurjar
Abhinandan Suryavanshi
Karan Ramesh Saranade

The junior men’s team features rising endurance athletes who have impressed at the national level.

🏃‍♀️ Senior Women (10km)

Nandani Gupta
Ujala
Soniya
Munni Devi

India fields a strong four-member senior women’s squad aiming to compete aggressively in the 10km race.

🏃‍♀️ U20 Women (8km)

Versha
Mani Yadav
Sonam Kumari
Aarju

The U20 women’s lineup represents India’s next generation of distance runners looking to gain international exposure.

🔎 What This Means for Indian Athletics

Participation in the Asian Cross Country Championships provides:

Crucial international competition exposure
Benchmarking against Asia’s best endurance athletes
Development opportunities for junior runners
Momentum ahead of upcoming continental and global events

With structured development programs and increasing focus on long-distance running, India continues to build depth in cross-country athletics.

The 12-member Indian team for the Asian Cross Country Championships 2026 heads to Fukuoka with optimism and ambition. A strong performance could boost India’s standing in Asian distance running while providing valuable experience to emerging athletes.

Earlier this season, Indian athletes competed at the World Cross Country Championship 2026, gaining valuable exposure against the strongest endurance runners globally. That experience now becomes crucial as the team shifts focus to continental competition in Fukuoka.

Stay tuned for complete race results, timings, and medal updates after the championship concludes.