The 63rd National Open Athletics Championships at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed a thrilling display of athleticism and some unexpected results. Annu Rani, the national record holder in women’s javelin throw, secured the gold medal with a throw of 58.97m, a mark below her personal best but a significant improvement from her performance at the recent Paris Olympics.
The men’s 100m saw a stunning performance from Odisha’s 21-year-old sprinter Lalu Prasad Bhoi, who outran more experienced runners to claim the gold with a time of 10.46 seconds. National record holder Manikanta Hoblidhar of Services finished a close second with a time of 10.48 seconds.
The 400m races were equally exciting. Delhi’s 23-year-old Tushar Manna secured the gold in the men’s 400m with a time of 45.97 seconds. In the women’s 400m, Aishwarya Mishra of Maharashtra secured the gold with a time of 53.77 seconds.
The men’s 110m hurdles final saw Tejas Shirse, the national record holder, suffer his first defeat of the season. He finished second with a time of 14.01 seconds, losing to R. Manav of Railways who won gold with a time of 13.86 seconds.
The championships showcased the emerging talent in Indian athletics and provided an exciting platform for athletes to compete and prove their mettle. The performances have undoubtedly set the stage for a promising future for Indian athletics.
