India announced a 54-member squad for the Asian Athletics Championships to be held in Bangkok from July 12 to 16, including star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, Asian record-holder shot putter, Tajinder Pal Singh Toor, and newcomers Decathlon champion Tejaswin Shankar has got a place.

Also Read: Murali Sreeshankar qualifies for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in the men's long jump event

Moreover, the team, selected by the selection committee of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), comprises 26 women players. The initial squad for the Asian Athletics Championships had already been picked after the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May. The National Inter-State Championship, which concluded in Bhubaneswar on Monday, was used to 'confirm' the players who did not participate in the Federation Cup.

Meanwhile, Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Commonwealth Games silver medalist 3000m steeplechase player Avinash Sable were not included in the squad as both will continue training abroad for the World Championships in Budapest in August.

Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair had said during the National Inter-State Championships that the team for the Asian event would be announced after a review meeting of the AFI selection committee.

Also Read: Inter-State Athletics 2023: Tajinderpal Singh Toor breaks Asian record to qualify for the World Championships

Indian Team for the Asian Athletics Championships:

Men:

Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammed Ajmal (400m/4x400m Relay/4x400m Mixed Relay), Amoj Jacob (4x400m Relay/4x400m Mixed Relay), Nihal Joel William, Mijo Chacko Kurian and Muhammed Anas Yahiya (4x400m Relay), Krishan Kumar and Mohammed Afsal (800m), Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson (1500m), Gulveer Singh (5000m/10000m), Abhishek Pal (5000m/10000m), Mohammed Nurhasan and Bal Kishan (3000m Steeplechase), Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh Kumar (400m hurdles), Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (High Jump), Jeswin Aldrin and Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump), Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple Jump), Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Karanveer Singh (Shot Put), Rohit Yadav and D P Manu (Javelin Throw), Akshdeep Singh and Vikash Singh (20km Race Walk).

Women:

Jyothi Yarraji (200m/100m Hurdles), Nithya Ramraj (100m Hurdles), Aishwarya Mishra (400m/4x400m Relay/4x400m Mixed Relay), Chanda and Lavika Sharma (800m), Lili Das (1500m), Ankita (5000m), Parul Chaudhary (5000m/3000m Steeplechase), Sanjivani Jadhav (10000m), Priti (3000m Steeplechase), Pooja and Rubina Yadav (High Jump), Baranica Elangovan (Pole Vault), Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan (Long Jump), Abha Khatua and Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), Swapna Barman (Heptathlon), Priyanka and Bhawna Jat (20km Race Walk), Rezoana Mallick Heena and Jyothika Sri Dandi (4x400m Relay/4x400m Mixed Relay), Anjali Devi, Jisna Mathew and Subha Venkatesan (4x400).

Instagram has transformed into a vibrant platform where athletes can engage with millions of fans and followers. Sharing with us their experiences, their joys and their achievements on Instagram, these are some athletes who we may not know properly, but definitely deserve to.

In this article, we will take a look at 10 unknown Indian athletes to follow on Instagram in 2025.

Also Read: Most Popular Indian Sports You Didn’t Know Existed

Unknown Indian Athletes to Follow on Instagram in 2025

10. Pooja Bishnoi (Runner)

• Followers - 1.3M
• Account - poojabishnoi36

Pooja Bishnoi, a 13-year-old prodigy set a new meet record in the 3,000m race at the 2024 U-19 IPSC Athletics Tournament. She’s already won gold medals in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m, showing the world that she’s not just a fast runner, she’s a future Olympic star.  

Her hard work and strong will caught the eye of the Virat Kohli Foundation, which now supports her training, food, and travel.  

Pooja is also becoming popular on social media, inspiring young athletes across the country. 

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9. Simran Verma (Boxing)

• Followers - 232k
• Account - simran12verma

Simran Verma is a prolific boxer and athlete who competes in the 52 kg category. Simran has won a Bronze at the Sub-Junior National and Silver in the U-17 School Nationals. After being selected to join IIS, Simran took her game to the next level and won her first international Silver Medal at the Junior Nations’ Cup in Serbia in August 2019.

Simran continued to train and fight hard and she went on the become the National Champion in 2021. She also bagged the bronze medal in the 2021 Khelo India Youth Games. She aims to be a part of the Indian Olympic team.

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8. Akash Shinde (Kabaddi)

• Followers - 169k
• Account - akash_shinde_3

In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy named Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.

In the PKL Season 9, Akash truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.

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7. Aishwarya Mishra (Track and Field)

• Followers - 32.8k
• Account - mishra_aishwarya8856

Aishwarya Mishra, one of India's top quarter-milers, has left behind the controversy of 2022 and re-established herself with strong performances at the Asian level and the National Games. The Maharashtra athlete, who was once under scrutiny for missing a dope test, has proved her abilities on the track with multiple medals and record-breaking performances.

In 2022, Mishra won gold in the women's 400m event at the Federation Cup in Kozhikode with a time of 51.18 seconds, making her the third-fastest Indian quarter-miler. 

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6. Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump)

• Followers - 73.1k
• Account - sreeshankarmurali

Murali Sreeshankar is an Indian athlete who competes in the long jump event. He created a national record of 8.36 metres set in 2022. He also grabbed silver medal in Asian Games 2023.

The 26 year old set to make a comeback from what many would have perceived a ‘career-ending’ injury. Murali has been out of competitions since before the Paris Olympics.

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Also Read: 10 Sports Podcasts Every Indian Fan Should Listen To

5. Niharika Vashisht (Triple Jump)

• Followers - 251k
• Account - niharika.vashhisht

Niharika Vashisht is a national gold medalist in the triple jump. Vashisht grabbed eyeballs of everyone by beating local favourite Sandra Babu in the women’s triple jump at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championship.

A social media influencer, Niharika has quite a following on the internet. She is making prudent use of the revenue she earns from social media account by funding her own training expenses.

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4. Pyari Xaxa (Football)

• Followers - 39k
• Account - xaxapyari

Having made her senior team debut in 2015, just after turning 18, the girl from Kuarmunda – a small town in Odisha – was one of the most promising youngsters when the Indian women clinched gold in the South Asian Games in 2016.

Pyari recently voted best Women's Indian Player of the Year.

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3. Avani Lekhara (Para-shooting)

• Followers - 138k
• Account - avani.lekhara

Para-shooter Avani Lekhara is the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the Para Olympic history. She is also the second Indian after javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia to win two gold medals at the Games. 

Avani's journey did not stop at the Paralympics. She continued to shine in various international competitions, including the World Cups and Asian Para Games, where she consistently won medals and set new benchmarks. 

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2. Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis)

• Followers - 18k
• Account - ayhika.m

An Arjuna Awardee, Ayhika Mukherjee from West Bengal has been representing India at the global stages since multiple years, having won many medals. She most recently won a historical Bronze Medal along with Sutirtha Mukherjee at the 2022 Asian Games, beating the Chinese World Champion duo in the Quarter Finals. 

Having already won multiple international medals, Ayhika’s career is on an upward graph as she continues to rise the ranks and improve her play.

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Also Read: Best Indian Sports Biopics of All Time

1. Sheetal Devi (Para-Archery)

• Followers - 607k
• Account - sheetal_archery

Teenaged Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, clinching the bronze medal in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar. At just 17 years old, she became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist and only the second armless archer in history to win a Paralympic medal.

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The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced a multi-year partnership with sports apparel brand 'Puma' on Thursday.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra wins gold in first competition in India in three years

With this, PUMA will provide uniforms, shoes, and other equipment to about 400 Indian players during domestic and international tournaments.

As the AFI's official kit sponsor, top Indian athletes will be wearing PUMA accessories including Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and steeplechase athlete Parul Chaudhary.

NEW LOOK. Elite Indian athletes will compete in @PUMA sports apparel at international level in future. @Paris2024 #Puma @Neeraj_chopra1 @Media_SAI @RECLindia pic.twitter.com/10NtH2CC6D

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) May 16, 2024

According to the release, Neeraj Chopra said, "As an athlete training for 12 years, I know the importance of high-quality gear for high-level practice. With AFI teaming up with global sports brand, Indian athletes across all levels will now have access to training gear of international excellence, assisting us to express our best in our game now. This partnership signals the bright future of Indian sport,"

This will be the first time that Indian players will get to wear the world class ‘Speed ​​Suits’ that PUMA provides to other players globally.

The speed suit is designed to aid in freedom of movement, aerodynamics, and fast acceleration, helping athletes focus solely on their performance and increasing efficiency.

Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director, PUMA India said, “At PUMA, we strongly believe in serving the athletes and helping them realise their full potential with our world class performance products. We are thrilled to partner with the Athletics Federation of India and help our athletes perform at the highest levels in various sporting disciplines across the globe. Together with Athletics Federation of India, we will accelerate this transformative journey in Indian athletics.”

Also Read: Long Jumper Murali Sreeshankar rules out of Paris Olympics 2024 after suffering knee injury

Adille Sumariwalla, the AFI President said, "Our association with Puma represents a significant milestone for India's athletes. With their high-quality gear, we are not only enhancing the performance of athletes but also creating a culture of excellence within the country's sporting community. We are confident that this partnership will propel Indian athletics to new heights on the global stage."

Top Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has been ruled out of the Paris Olympics 2024 citing a knee injury which will require him to undergo a surgery. Sreeshankar announced this heartbreaking news through social media on Thursday.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Indian athletes who qualified for the Paris 2024

There is not much time left for the Olympic Games to be held in Paris this year. India's medal hopes in these games have suffered a major setback as their star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who was considered a medal contender in Paris, will not participate in these games. 

"All my life, I've had the courage to look at a setback in the eye, accept situations I can't change, and work hard at dictating the outcomes of those I can. Unfortunately, in what feels like a nightmare, but is a reality, my Paris Olympic Games dream is over," Sreeshankar wrote on Instagram.

"I suffered a knee injury during training on Tuesday, and all the tests and consultations later, it's been decided that I would need surgery, ruling me out of the one single thing I have chased relentlessly all these years," he added.

Murali Sreeshankar had won the silver medal in the Asian Athletics Championship in Bangkok last year with a jump of 8.37m. He also crossed the qualifying mark of 8.27 for the Paris Olympics. Sreeshankar had been busy preparing for Paris since then. 

“To wake up healthy every single day, and watch yourself get into the best shape of your life is every athlete’s dream. I was living it, until this incident,” Sreeshankar further added.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024 Flame lighting ceremony started in the birthplace of the ancient Olympics

Twenty-five-year-old Sreeshankar had become the third Indian to finish in the top three of the Diamond League with a third-place finish in the Paris stage on June 9 last year. Before him, Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda have achieved this feat. Sreeshankar had also won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year but was eliminated in the qualifying round at the 2023 Budapest World Championships.

Long jump Olympian Murali Sreeshankar has been honored with the 35th Jimmy George Foundation Award for the best sportsperson in Kerala. The award consists of one lakh rupees and a plaque.

Also Read: Anahat Singh makes history as youngest National Squash Champion in over two decades

The winner was selected by a committee with Chairman Jose George and members Anju Bobby George, Robert Bobby, Sebastian and Stanley. The award will be presented to Murali Sreeshankar at the Jimmy George Sports Academy at Peravoor, Kannur, on December 22.

Murali Sreeshankar, who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, gained international attention after winning a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He won silver medals in the Asian Games in China and Asian Championships in Thailand and also a bronze in the Paris Diamond League this year. The No.4 athlete was also seventh in the World Championships in the USA last year.

Murali Sreeshankar left sprinting at the age of 13 and later pursued a career in the long jump. Till the age of 20, he has crossed the distance of 8m thrice. Murali engraved the logo Olympics (5 rings) on his bedroom mirror after being qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He used to practice in Palakkad's government medical college's ground for practicing for Tokyo Olympics.

Also Read: Dhiraj Bommadevara secures India's first 2024 Paris Olympics quota place in archery

Murali Sreeshankar began his career by sprinting and won state-level under-10 championships in 50 and 100 meters respectively. He won the gold medal at the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics championships, Patiala in March 2018. He is the 4th athlete from Kerala to qualify for Olympics since 1972. Murali gained his first international medal in 2018 at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Gifu, Japan.

India athletes won as many as 28 medals to register their best-ever Asian Athletics Championship in Thailand. During this five-day athletic meet, India won 6 gold, 13 silver and 9 bronze medals. Previously, India's best result at the Asian Athletic Championship was in Bhubaneshwar in 2017 where India had won 27 medals. India finished third just behind Japan and China in the Asian Athletics Championship 2023 medal tally.

Asian Athletics Championship 2023 | Recap of India's performance

Jyothi Yarraji, Abdulla Aboobacker, the mixed relay team, and Murali Sreeshankar were definitely the stars for India in the championship. Jyothi Yarraji who already has the National record in 100m hurdles, clocked 13.08 to win the gold along with her silver in the 200m race (23.13)

Abdulla Aboobacker's 16.92 m was good enough to big India the gold in the Men's triple jump category. The Indian mixed 4*400 relay team clocked 3:14.70 to showcase the future of Indian track and field by winning the Gold medal. Ajay Kumar Saroj was impressive as well with his 3:41.51 to win the Gold in Men's 1500-meter race.

Read Also: Asian Athletics Championships 2023: India's results; medal tally | LIVE Updates | India finish with 28 medals

Along with them, it was Parul Chaudhary who was superb with two medals in the Asian Athletics Championship 2023 for India. Parul won one gold in 3000 metres steeplechase and one silver in the Women's 5000m race. Swapna Barman's 5840 points in the Heptathlon with so much injury in recent times, was an impressive feat as well.

But, it was Murali Sreeshankar's 8.37m long jump that caught all the attention. Sreeshankar's final jump not only made sure he will have the silver medal, but it also gave him the ticket to Paris Olympics 2024 as well.

Gold Medalists for India | Asian Athletics Championship 2023

Silver Medalists for India | Asian Athletics Championship 2023

Bronze Medalists for India | Asian Athletics Championship 2023