The National Senior Athletics Federation Competition at Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi faced significant challenges on its opening day due to extreme heat and humidity. Deepak Bhatt from Uttarakhand emerged victorious in the men's 10,000m race, clocking 29:42.93, which marked his first national medal and personal best. However, the race was marred by the struggles of several athletes; notably, Shivaji Parashuram from Karnataka collapsed at the finish line due to severe dehydration and was later disqualified for stepping outside the track limits. In total, eight athletes failed to complete the race, underscoring the harsh conditions. Indian chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair acknowledged the humidity but emphasized that athletes are generally trained for such environments. Kartik Karkera, known for winning back-to-back marathons, also faced difficulties, finishing in 32:03.14. In the women's event, Ravina Gayakwad of Maharashtra won the title with a time of 35:30.98, followed by Soniya from Uttarakhand and Aarti Pawara from Maharashtra.