Representative Image: India had sent 19 athletes to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo but returned without a medal. | Photo Credit: AFP

The road to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing is expected to be tougher for Indian athletes, with World Athletics approving a qualification system that will place greater emphasis on entry standards and rankings.

The championships will be held in Beijing from September 11 to 19, marking the event’s return to the Chinese capital 12 years after it hosted the 2015 edition.

According to the approved framework, about 40 per cent of athletes are expected to qualify through entry standards, while the remaining 60 per cent will make it through the world rankings route. The qualification windows will vary across events, with marathon marks counted from November 3, 2025 to May 2, 2027, while most other disciplines will have their standards window from August 23, 2026 to August 22, 2027.

The standards are steep. The reported marks include 9.95 seconds for men’s 100m, 10.96 seconds for women’s 100m, 20.07 seconds for men’s 200m and 44.45 seconds for men’s 400m, underlining the level required for direct qualification.

India had sent 19 athletes to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo but returned without a medal. Sarvesh Kushare produced the best Indian finish, placing sixth in men’s high jump, while Sachin Yadav was fourth in men’s javelin and Neeraj Chopra finished eighth.

Published on May 26, 2026