739 Athletes Set to Compete at Deputy Mayor Cup TRACKNIGHTS State-Level Athletics Championship
Pune, 23rd April 2026: A total of 739 athletes from districts across Maharashtra will be in action at the Deputy Mayor Cup TRACKNIGHTS, the state’s first-ever floodlit state-level athletics championship. The event is organised by the Athletic Sports Foundation in association with the Poona District Athletic Association (PDAA) and the Maharashtra Athletic Association (MAA), and will be held at Sanas Ground from April 24 to 26, 2026.
Organising Secretary Chirag Patel stated that TRACKNIGHTS has already carved a niche with successful editions in Mumbai (2020 & 2025) and Nashik (2023 & 2024), and its arrival in Pune marks a significant expansion across Maharashtra’s athletics circuit. A total of 739 athletes from various districts—including Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Palghar, Thane, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—will participate in the championship.
The three-day championship will feature more than 90 track and field events across multiple age categories, including Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Under-18, and Open. Both boys and girls will compete for top honours, with individual and team championship titles at stake. The tournament also carries a total prize purse of ₹50,000.
Athletes will compete under floodlights with the support of electronic timing systems and LED display boards—features typically seen at elite-level competitions—bringing a high-performance environment to the grassroots level.
“TRACKNIGHTS was created with the vision of giving young athletes a platform that mirrors international competition standards. Competing under lights, with professional timing and presentation, not only enhances performance but also builds confidence. We want every athlete here to feel like they are part of something big and take a step forward in their sporting journey,” said Organising Secretary Chirag Patel.
The championship will feature a wide range of events, including Long Jump, 800m run, Shot Put (3kg), High Jump, 60m run, 300m run, Discus Throw, 60m hurdles, Javelin Throw, 120m hurdles, and the 4×100m relay.
