National records were shattered, qualification marks were achieved, and some of India’s finest athletes delivered performances of international significance at the 29th National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi. Yet, as history unfolded on the track, large sections of the 35,000-capacity Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium remained empty.
The contrast was hard to miss. Over the past few days, Indian athletics witnessed several landmark performances, including Gurindervir Singh’s national record in the men’s 100 metres and Tejaswin Shankar becoming the first Indian decathlete to cross the 8,000-point mark. However, the quality of competition did not translate into large spectator attendance, raising questions about the sport’s reach and popularity.
According to Madhukant Pathak, president of the Jharkhand Athletics Association and an office-bearer of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the challenge lies in taking athletics beyond elite competitions and building a stronger grassroots culture.
“We need to take athletics to every village and every household. There is still a lot of work to be done to create awareness and interest in the sport at the grassroots level,” Pathak said.
He attributed part of the low turnout to the timing of the event during the summer vacation period.
“Many athletes associated with day-boarding centres and training programmes have returned to their hometowns during the vacation. Naturally, that has affected attendance,” he said.
Pathak also cautioned against comparisons with cricket. “Cricket has a strong management structure, vast financial resources and a well-developed ecosystem. Athletics is still developing in those areas,” he added.
The challenge is particularly visible in Jharkhand. While the state enjoys a strong sporting identity through hockey and has witnessed enthusiastic crowds for cricket and football events, athletics has struggled to build a similar emotional connection with local audiences.
Despite India’s recent success on the track, domestic athletics competitions continue to receive far less visibility than major events in other sports. As a result, many sports fans remain unaware of the significance of performances taking place at national-level meets.
Athletes and coaches also point to continuing challenges related to scientific training, nutrition, financial support and long-term athlete development. These factors influence not only sporting success but also the emergence of local stars capable of attracting spectators and inspiring wider public interest.
For Ranchi, the empty galleries served as a reminder that infrastructure alone cannot create a sporting culture. The city possesses one of the country’s finest athletics facilities and has successfully hosted major sporting events. The larger challenge now is to build a lasting connection between the sport and the public.
The National Federation Championships demonstrated that Indian athletics is progressing rapidly on the field. The sparse attendance, however, underscored a different reality: while records are being broken with increasing frequency, building a strong spectator culture remains one of the sport’s biggest unfinished tasks.