The Indian Open Under-23 athletics meet at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna witnessed a surge of athletic excellence on Sunday, with several athletes setting new meet records and showcasing impressive performances.
Jyoti, the javelin thrower from Haryana, dominated the event, surpassing her previous record of 52.77m in all six attempts. Her fifth throw, a remarkable 58.49m, secured her the gold medal and a new meet record. Jyoti and her training partner Deepika, also from Haryana, continued their winning streak from last year, claiming the top two spots.
Tushar Kanti Manna, a Delhi athlete, demonstrated his versatility and athleticism by winning the 400m race. Having switched from long jump to short sprints and then to the 400m in January, Manna recorded an impressive personal best of 45.92 seconds, securing a convincing victory. “I feel good to improve upon my National Open performance of 45.97. I am now the second fastest 400m runner of the country this season after Rajesh Ramesh (45.54),” shared Manna, who is training in Patiala.
Jashbir Nayak from Odisha showcased his strength and endurance by accumulating 7065 points in the decathlon, shattering the previous record.
The meet also witnessed several other impressive performances. Abhimanyu (men’s discus, 53.66m), Gobika K. and Payal Jamod (women’s high jump, 1.76m) equaled the existing meet records. Olympian Ankita Dhyani, who competed in the 5000m at the Paris Olympics, showcased her versatility by winning her debut 3000m steeplechase race with a timing of 10:17.25. Ankita maintained a slight lead from the start before establishing a comfortable advantage, ultimately securing a comprehensive win. “I could not perform well in the Olympics due to health issues. I wanted to check myself in 3000m. It’s not a great start and I can do better with proper training. There’s not much competition in women’s steeplechase. ALSO READ | Indian Open U-23: Poorva Sawant sets new meet record with women’s triple jump gold “Since I had never done this event, I was a little apprehensive of my jumps and wanted to stay clear of any group initially,” said Ankita from Uttarakhand.
In the men’s 100m race, Animesh Kujur’s strong finish secured him the victory with a time of 10.40, while National record holder Manikanta Hoblidhar finished fourth with 10.68.
The Indian Open Under-23 athletics meet provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their talent and potential, setting the stage for a promising future in the world of athletics.
